Lifting of US sanctions sparks Palestinian fears of settler escalation

A car torched by settlers by the Palestinian village of Beirut Furik in the West Bank, November 16, 2024. (X screenshot used in accordance with article 27a of the copyright law.)
A car torched by settlers by the Palestinian village of Beirut Furik in the West Bank, November 16, 2024. (X screenshot used in accordance with article 27a of the copyright law.)

Moayaad Shaaban, a minister in the Palestinian Authority, says the lifting of sanctions “gives the green light to settlers to commit even more serious crimes.”

He added that, as a result, he feared a “real massacre in one of our villages.”

Just last night, at least 21 people were wounded in settler attacks “under the supervision and protection of the Israeli army and political leadership,” the ministry says.

UN security alerts on Monday indicated that at least 11 incidents involving settlers occurred throughout the West Bank since a ceasefire began in Gaza on Sunday.

The Palestinian foreign ministry criticized a decision by Defense Minister Israel Katz last week to release settlers held in administrative detention, warning “against attempts to escalate the situation in the West Bank” to facilitate its annexation by Israel.

It also denounced what it said was a proliferation of Israeli checkpoints and tightened restrictions on Palestinians, which it said had “fragmented the West Bank.”

It noted that there were now nearly 900 barriers in the territory, including 16 installed in recent days.

Most Popular