Mark Ruffalo denounces 'lawless' West Bank killings, land seizures by Israel

US artists continue to denounce the killing of Palestinian children by Israeli soldiers and illegal settlers across the occupied territories, highlighting fatalities in the West Bank. Building on his previous vocal stances regarding two years of devastating war and tragic loss of life in Gaza, Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo has strongly criticized the seizure of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank.

'Absolutely lawless'

Denouncing the situation in a post on X, Ruffalo shared a report from British newspaper The Guardian and remarked: "Absolutely lawless when it comes to killing and stealing land." In his post, the actor drew attention to alarming UN data cited in the report, which indicates that Israeli soldiers and illegal settlers have killed at least 1,100 Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank since 2020. Ruffalo noted that at least a quarter of these casualties were children, highlighting that no one has been charged in connection with these deaths.

Settler violence spikes

According to Palestinian authorities, illegal settler attacks reached a record peak last month with over 500 documented incidents. Analysts and human rights observers emphasize that these attacks often occur under the protection of or in coordination with Israeli soldiers, resulting in fatalities, the burning of homes, and the destruction of vital farmland.

International law ignored

While the US and EU officially label annexation a violation of international law, the expansion of illegal settlements and lack of consequences leave civilians increasingly vulnerable. The West Bank has seen escalating violence since the Gaza war began, with Israeli forces conducting near-daily raids and settler attacks displacing Palestinian communities.

Gaza war context

The West Bank violence comes amid the broader regional conflict following US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, which have killed over 1,350 people according to Iranian authorities. Israel's war on Gaza has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and devastated civilian infrastructure, with daily ceasefire violations continuing despite an October 2025 truce.