🔗 Share this article

Italy and Canada have raised concerns about the treatment of their nationals who were assaulted and robbed by Jewish settlers in the Palestinian territories under occupation.

Particulars Surrounding the Violent Incident

Three Italians and a Canadian were assaulted in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday in the village of Ein al-Duyuk, near the city of Jericho. They were serving to help protect the Palestinian population from escalating violence by settlers.

“In the early morning of November 30th, 10 masked settlers, some armed with military-style rifles, forced their way into the residence where we were resting after a night shift,” said the Canadian national.

Each of the four required hospital treatment and one, an Italian man, was still receiving care in the city of Ramallah on Monday for more substantial injuries.

Rising Tensions in Ein al-Duyuk

The frequency and severity of attacks in this area have risen dramatically over the past two months. This coincides with the creation of an unauthorized settler encampment in the vicinity and the influx of new, confrontational settlers.

Local observers report that aggressive acts have become an almost daily occurrence. These incidents have involved settler mobs forcibly entering houses, assaulting residents, and stealing livestock and property.

International Law and Official Responses

Although all Israeli communities on occupied territory are illegal under international law, irregular outposts are also illegal under Israeli law. Ein al-Duyuk is in Area A of the West Bank, a zone theoretically under the control of the Palestinian Authority.

The Canadian foreign ministry stated it “strongly condemns the acts of violence committed by extremist settlers and opposes any actions or talk about annexation of the Palestinian territories.”

The Italian foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, told reporters: “We have had enough of this aggression. This is not the way for anyone to make their claims.”

Absence of Protection and Wider Situation

Villagers and activists report there has been little effective action by security forces to stop the attacks or dismantle the outpost. Senior figures of the Israeli governing coalition actively support settlements in the territory.

According to UN figures that Israeli settlers and security forces have taken the lives of over a thousand Palestinians, including 233 children, in the West Bank over the past two years.

Perspective from the Ground

The injured Canadian added that, despite the attack, she felt the presence of volunteers in the village had been valuable.

“The residents felt more confident while we were present,” she said. “The children played freely. Families could sleep soundly. That alone made our presence worthwhile.”

A local organizer working with groups that bring in international observers said the new outpost has brought in ideologically driven settlers who appear to be part of a coordinated network.