The governments of Italy and Canada have expressed alarm about the treatment of their nationals who were beaten and robbed by Jewish settlers in the Palestinian territories under occupation.
Three Italians and a Canadian were attacked early on Sunday morning in the community of Ein al-Duyuk, near Jericho. They were serving to help protect the Palestinian population from escalating violence by settlers.
“At 4.30am on 30 November, 10 masked settlers, two carrying army-issued rifles, burst into the home where we were sleeping after night-watch,” said the Canadian national.
All four were hospitalised and one, an male Italian volunteer, was still receiving care in Ramallah on Monday for more serious wounds.
The pace and intensity of attacks in Ein al-Duyuk have increased substantially over the last eight weeks. This follows the creation of an unauthorized settler encampment nearby and the arrival of young and aggressive settlers.
Activists say that aggressive acts have become an almost daily occurrence. These incidents have involved settler mobs breaking into homes, beating villagers, and taking sheep, vehicles, and destroying solar panels.
Although all Israeli communities on land seized in 1967 are considered unlawful by the international community, irregular outposts are also illegal under Israeli law. The village is located within Area A of the West Bank, a zone theoretically under the control of the Palestinian governing body.
Canada's Department of Global Affairs stated it “strongly condemns the violent acts committed by extremist settlers and opposes any actions or talk about absorbing Palestinian land.”
The Italian foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, told reporters: “We have had enough of this aggression. This is not the way for anyone to assert their rights.”
Residents and advocates report there has been no meaningful police intervention to halt the assaults or remove the illegal settlement. Leading members of the Israeli governing coalition actively support West Bank settlers.
According to UN figures that Israeli settlers and security forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians, including 233 children, in the West Bank over the past two years.
The Canadian volunteer added that, despite the attack, she felt the international presence in the village had been meaningful.
“The residents felt more confident while we were present,” she said. “Kids were able to play outside. Families could sleep soundly. Just that made our presence worthwhile.”
A Palestinian activist working with groups that bring in international observers said the recent encampment has brought in far-right wing settlers who appear to be part of a coordinated network.
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