Today: 4 April 2025
17 November 2023
2 mins read

France calls West Bank Israeli settler violence ‘policy of terror’

UN human rights chief Volker Turk echoed her words.  Speaking in Geneva on Thursday, Turk said he was deeply concerned about the intensification of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank…reports Asian Lite News

France has condemned violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, calling it a “policy of terror” aimed at displacing Palestinians and urging Israeli authorities to protect Palestinians from the violence.

UN figures show that daily settler attacks have more than doubled, since the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7 and the ensuing assault on the Palestinian enclave of Gaza.

“Concerning the West Bank, I’d like to express the strongest condemnation by France of the violence carried out by the settlers against the Palestinians,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre.

“Violence which has the clear objective of forced displacement of the Palestinians and a policy of terror.” She said the Israeli authorities needed to take the necessary measures to protect the Palestinian population and warned that the settlement policy harmed the two-state solution.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk echoed her words.  Speaking in Geneva on Thursday, Turk said he was deeply concerned about the intensification of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

He said it was clear the Israeli occupation must end. This year was already the deadliest in at least 15 years for West Bank residents, with some 200 Palestinians and 26 Israelis killed, according to UN data.

But just in the three weeks since the Oct. 7 attack, more than 120 West Bank Palestinians have been killed. Clashes with soldiers have caused most deaths.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war and it has been under military occupation since, while Israeli settlements have consistently expanded.

Palestinians envisage the West Bank as part of a future independent state also including Gaza and East Jerusalem. France’s Legendre also said that about half the 100 tons of aid France had sent to Gaza had entered the enclave.

She added it was not up to Israel to decide the future governance of Gaza, which she said should be part of a future Palestinian state.

ALSO READ-Syria’s Assad Faces Arrest in France

Previous Story

Cameron meets Zelenskyy, reiterates support

Next Story

World Bank warns Israel-Gaza conflict may surge commodity prices

Latest from -Top News

Trump tariffs send world markets into panic

US benchmark crude oil shed $2.70 to $64.25 a barrel after major oil producers announced they plan to increase production. Brent crude, the international standard, was down $2.63 at $67.51 a barrel

EU prepares retaliation for Trump’s tariffs

The European Commission is assembling a fresh round of counter-tariffs aimed at US goods, adding to two existing lists of potential targets—one of which includes products that were hit by suspended tariffs

US, EU slam China’s war games near Taiwan

US President Donald Trump underscored the need to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait, advocating for a diplomatic approach to cross-strait tensions while warning against the use of force The United States

£13.9 billion of R&D fund to boost innovation, jobs

Funding outlined to support transformational R&D in areas like life sciences, green energy, engineering and beyond More UK innovators like those developing treatment-transforming dementia tests or building world-leading testing facilities to power

OPEC+ accelerates oil output hikes

Despite the production boost, the group emphasised that future adjustments remain flexible and could be paused or reversed depending on market conditions. Eight OPEC+ nations have unexpectedly decided to accelerate their oil
Go toTop

Don't Miss

French far right eyes power after election win

With the French facing their most polarizing choices in recent

Egypt, Jordan, France Demand Gaza Ceasefire

The leaders urged Israel to ensure the flow of humanitarian