All articles tagged with #jewish settlers
Jewish settler violence in the West Bank has escalated, targeting the Christian village of Taibeh with arson, land damage, and threats to its ancient Christian sites and community, prompting calls from local church leaders for international intervention and documentation of the deteriorating situation.
Jewish settlers in the West Bank, motivated by religious, nationalistic, and economic reasons, are at the center of controversy as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues. Human rights groups accuse settlers of exploiting the conflict to force Palestinians out of their homes, while settlers argue they have biblical, historical, and moral rights to the land. The settler population has grown by 16% in the last five years, and some settlers believe the recent attacks by Hamas have vindicated their presence. However, their actions have drawn condemnation from international observers, including calls for Israel to protect Palestinians from forced displacement.
Israeli forces killed two Palestinians, including a 16-year-old, in a raid in the occupied West Bank, while an Israeli court released a Jewish settler charged in the shooting death of a Palestinian. Israel has been conducting nightly raids in response to Palestinian attacks, fueling tensions in the region. The release of the settler highlights concerns about Israel treating radical Jewish settlers with impunity. The ongoing violence has resulted in over 170 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since the start of 2023, with both militants and civilians among the casualties.
Israeli far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir led a group of over a thousand ultranationalist settlers to the Al-Aqsa compound in occupied East Jerusalem, his third visit this year. The visit coincided with Tisha B'Av, a Jewish fast day mourning the destruction of ancient Jewish temples. Ben-Gvir, known for his anti-Palestinian remarks, aims to assert Israeli sovereignty over the site, while some hardline Israeli Jewish groups advocate for the destruction of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the construction of a third Jewish temple. The situation at the compound was tense, with clashes reported and Palestinian Muslim worshippers being turned away. Jordan condemned Ben-Gvir's actions, warning of their dangerous consequences.