Settlers’ violence and escalation: Médecins du Monde calls for the protection of Palestinian communities
Médecins du Monde France (MdM) is extremely concerned about the violence faced by West Bank communities in the context of the escalation of tension in Palestine. Villages are being randomly attacked by settlers in response to previous aggressions against Israelis, in Nablus and Jerusalem. This type of indiscriminate collective punishment contributes to perpetuate the cycle of violence and breach the fundamental rights of Palestinians to safety and protection.
MdM intervenes in 27 villages in Northern West Bank to provide mental health and psychosocial support to victims of violence. These villages are regularly targeted by settlers’ attacks. Since the Duma arson on the 31st of July, in which a baby and his parents were killed by fire, MdM teams have witnessed an increase of assaults by settlers, with 14 new incidents between August 1st and September 15th – an average of two attacks per week.
But with the recent escalation following the murders of Israelis settlers around Nablus and Jerusalem, the situation has further deteriorated. Besides clashes with ISF, house searches or stoning of cars on the road, the villages where MdM usually intervenes are confronted with violent attacks by settlers, including stoning, burning of trees, burning of agricultural land or attacks of houses notably with Molotov cocktails. Social workers are struggling to access the victims because of the insecurity on the roads, the demonstrations and the closures.
“On Wednesday, we finally managed to go to Jit [village 5km west of Nablus]. Last Friday, at night, settlers came to the village and started to stone four houses. When villagers responded, the army threw tear gas: two women included a pregnant one suffocated and had to be hospitalized. In Burin, too, the situation is really, really bad… The land and trees have been burnt by settlers.” explains Shahira Afanah, an MdM social worker after a visit in the field.
Settlers are accompanied by Israeli security forces using tear gas, rubber bullets and sometimes live ammunition when confronted with Palestinians. On the other hand, there is no protection offered to Palestinians victims of violent settlers.
MdM firmly condemns all types of violence in the region. The international community, including France and the EU, must react and call for the protection of Palestinian and the accountability of the perpetrators of violence against them.
Contact:
Anne-Sophie Simpere
Advocacy Coordinator
MDM-France – Mission Palestine
Jawwal: +972 (0) 595 94 06 50
Orange: + 972 (0) 549 08 73 63