A United Nations report on 28 December 2023 has outlined the worsening human rights situation in the West Bank since 7 October, including East Jerusalem, and demanded Israel stop unlawful killings and settler violence.
The report verified the deaths of 300 Palestinians, including 79 children, in the region from 7 October to 27 December 2023, marking the highest number in a ten-month period since 2005. Israeli Security Forces were responsible for 291 of these deaths, with settlers causing eight, and one death attributed to either Israeli forces or settlers.
The report also highlighted the arrest of over 4,700 Palestinians by Israeli Security Forces, which included around 40 journalists. Many detainees faced severe mistreatment, including being stripped, blindfolded, and physically abused. Some were subjected to prolonged restraint, humiliation and even sexual violence.
Following 7 October, there was a noted increase in violence from settlers against Palestinians, averaging six incidents per day. These attacks often involved shootings, arson and destruction of property, significantly impacting Palestinian livelihoods, particularly in agricultural areas.
The report further emphasised the Israeli authorities’ imposition of stringent movement restrictions on Palestinians across the West Bank. These measures included the closure of village and town entrances, disconnecting cities from main roads and erecting concrete roadblocks, significantly hampering daily life and access to resources.
In response to these findings, the United Nations has called for Israel to take immediate action to end the violence and address the deteriorating human rights situation in the West Bank.
Meanwhile, others living in Palestine face challenges, with Armenians in particular at risk of worsening their precarious situation due to land acquisitions by Israeli settlers. In Jerusalem‘s Old City, the Armenian community, numbering around 2,000 and lacking Israeli citizenship, is resisting a land acquisition by Australian-Israeli investor Danny Rothman which is threatening their quarter. This peaceful protest, marked by a sit-in and legal actions, escalated following an attack on community members by over 30 armed Israeli settlers. The real estate deal, involving 11,500 square metres of land, was reportedly finalised without the Armenians’ consent.
Amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, the situation in Gaza has further deteriorated. Between 27 and 28 December, Israeli military operations in three refugee camps resulted in at least 50 deaths. The overall death toll in Gaza has now surpassed 21,300, including 312 health care workers. This escalation has prompted a mass exodus from the densely populated districts of Nusseirat, Bureij and Maghazi, as thousands seek safety from the relentless violence.
