In a world where international news is increasingly important, it is important to stay informed about events happening around the world. One of these events is the increase in violence committed by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock strongly condemned the violence during a visit to the occupied West Bank. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah, Israeli settlers or Israeli soldiers have killed at least 340 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7. These attacks have reached such a level that the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) declared 2023 to have been the deadliest year for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since 2005.
It is important to remember that Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 and has continued to build settlements in this region, despite their illegal status under international law. The settlements encroach on land that Palestinians and the international community view as part of a future Palestinian state. Israel, for its part, claims that the West Bank is “disputed territory” and that its settlement policy is legal.
Germany, one of Israel’s closest allies, recently called on Israel to limit the number of civilian casualties in Gaza during the country’s military offensive. Annalena Baerbock also stressed the need to protect Palestinian civilians during military actions in Gaza. She reaffirmed that the long-term solution for peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians was an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, in line with the two-state solution.
It is crucial that the international community continues to closely monitor the situation in the occupied West Bank and highlight the human rights violations that are occurring. The violence committed by Israeli settlers must not be tolerated, and it is essential that those responsible are held accountable for their actions. As engaged citizens, it is our duty to support efforts to promote peace, justice and respect for human rights for all.