Exaggerated terrorism: Global response to West Bank settler rampage
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In a violent overnight raid, Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Jit in the northern West Bank, killing a 23-year-old man and injuring several others. The assault on the village, located approximately 10 kilometres west of Nablus, is part of a broader surge in violence in the West Bank, which has escalated in the context of Israel's ongoing war in Gaza.
The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that Mahmoud Abdel Qader Sadda was fatally shot during the attack. Eyewitnesses reported that dozens of masked settlers stormed the village, opening fire on residents, setting vehicles ablaze, and destroying homes and other properties. Video footage from the scene corroborated these accounts, showing widespread destruction and chaos.
This attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents involving Israeli settlers and Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. The violence has intensified since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict on October 7, with nearly 600 Palestinians killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces and settlers as of August 12, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The increasing violence has drawn condemnation from human rights groups, who accuse Israel of allowing its military and settlers to operate with impunity.
The assault on Jit has sparked widespread outrage, with both Palestinian officials and international leaders condemning the attack. The Palestinian Authority denounced the incident as an act of "organised state terrorism" and called for international sanctions against Israel. The attack was also condemned by Hamas, which characterised it as part of Israel's broader "extermination plans" against the Palestinian people.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence but attributed it to "radical individuals" rather than a broader policy. He stated that only the Israeli military and security forces are authorised to carry out operations and promised that those responsible would be apprehended and tried. Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant also condemned the attack and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The United States expressed its concern, calling for an immediate end to settler violence and urging Israeli authorities to protect all communities in the West Bank. The US National Security Council and US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew both called for accountability, emphasising the need to stop such attacks.
The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, also condemned the attack, highlighting the impunity with which settlers have been operating in the West Bank. He urged Israel to halt these actions immediately, warning that continued violence would undermine any prospects for peace.
In the United Kingdom, Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the attack in strong terms, describing the scenes of destruction and violence as "abhorrent." He called for a swift investigation to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. France and Germany echoed these sentiments, with both countries calling for an immediate end to the violence and for Israel to fulfil its obligation to protect Palestinians in the West Bank.
The United Nations also weighed in, with spokespersons highlighting the systemic nature of settler violence in the West Bank. They noted that the violence in Jit was not an isolated incident but rather a consequence of Israel's settlement policies. UN officials called for greater accountability and protection for Palestinian communities, stressing that the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators of such violence must end.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the attack as part of the ongoing Israeli aggression against Palestinians. They held Israel fully responsible for the consequences of these actions, which they characterised as a violation of international humanitarian law.