Israeli settlers assault Palestinians, torch car in West Bank attack

A violent attack by illegal Israeli settlers has left two Palestinians injured in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society confirmed on Thursday that a man and his daughter were assaulted and required hospital treatment after being attacked near the Eli settlement in the Ramallah district. The assailants also set the victims' vehicle on fire during the incident, highlighting the brutal nature of the assault.

Alarming Surge in Settler Violence

This attack is emblematic of a drastic escalation in settler aggression. According to the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, a staggering 621 attacks by settlers against Palestinians and their property were recorded in the West Bank during the single month of November. This pattern of violence has intensified significantly since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, creating an environment of pervasive fear and intimidation for Palestinian communities.

Mounting Casualties and Arrests Since October

The wider context of the Israeli occupation has grown increasingly deadly. Palestinian sources report that since October 2023, more than 1,087 Palestinians have been killed and over 10,700 injured in the West Bank due to actions by the Israeli military and settlers. Furthermore, Israeli authorities have arrested more than 20,500 Palestinians in the territory during this period, compounding the humanitarian and political crisis.

International Legal Framework and Calls for Accountability

These ongoing violations occur in the shadow of a critical International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion from July, which deemed Israel's occupation illegal and called for the dismantlement of all settlements. For Türkiye, a nation that persistently advocates for the Palestinian cause, condemns illegal settlements, and stresses the imperative of international law, such attacks reinforce the urgent necessity for global action to ensure accountability and to revive a credible political process toward a two-state solution.