NEW YORK, UNITED NATIONS:
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has strongly condemned the escalating attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian religious sites, homes, and properties in the occupied West Bank, warning that these actions risk igniting further violence in the volatile region.
The Secretary-General specifically voiced condemnation for the assault on a mosque located in the town of Deir Istiya. This attack was allegedly carried out by illegal Jewish settlers, who have frequently been implicated in acts of violence against Palestinians.
Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, conveyed to the media that Guterres expressed deep concern not only over the mosque attack but also over the settlers’ assaults targeting Palestinian homes and other properties across the West Bank.
The spokesperson issued a stark warning that these sustained attacks in the occupied territories will lead to a further increase in violence, potentially destabilizing an already fragile environment. Dujarric reiterated a fundamental principle of international law: “Israel, as the occupying power, remains responsible under international law for the protection of the Palestinian civilian population.”
This explicit condemnation from the UN reflects the international body’s view of the settlers’ violent actions as a direct violation of human rights and global law, while simultaneously stressing Israel’s legal obligations toward the Palestinian population under its control.
