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Diplomats from 13 European countries and Canada have issued a joint statement condemning what they describe as “settler terror” against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, amid a surge in deadly attacks in recent weeks. The statement, signed by the diplomatic missions of countries including France, Spain and Britain, calls on Israeli authorities to “prevent and prosecute the lethal violence, raids and attacks” targeting Palestinian communities.
The joint statement follows a rise in settler violence that has drawn criticism not only from international actors but also from within Israel's military establishment. Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, Israel's military chief, described the attacks as “morally and ethically unacceptable,” a position echoed by influential rabbis and settler leaders in recent weeks.
Coverage comparison
Reporting on the issue has been broadly consistent across outlets, though with differing emphases. Dawn, a Pakistani English-language daily, focused on the international diplomatic condemnation, highlighting the joint statement and a tally showing that at least 1,050 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops or settlers in the West Bank since the start of Israel's military offensive in Gaza. The Jerusalem Post, an Israeli publication, took a more critical angle domestically, accusing the government of inaction and examining controversial new legislation and the assault of a CNN news crew by IDF soldiers. The South China Morning Post provided a regional perspective, linking the surge in violence to the onset of the war with Iran and quoting researchers on the rise of “Jewish terrorism.”
Despite these differences in focus, all three sources agree that settler attacks have escalated significantly and that the Israeli government has done little to curb the violence, fostering an environment of impunity.
Key claims
Escalation of settler violence
Since the start of March, six Palestinians have been shot dead in settler attacks in the West Bank, according to a tally from the Palestinian health ministry quoted by Dawn. The joint statement from European and Canadian diplomats said the violence had created a “coercive environment” aiming to force Palestinians to leave their homes. The statement strongly condemned “increasing settler terror and violence by the Israeli security forces inflicted upon Palestinian communities.”
Broader violence since Gaza offensive
An AFP tally based on Palestinian health ministry figures, cited by Dawn, reported that Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 1,050 Palestinians — many of them fighters, but also scores of civilians — in the West Bank since the start of Israel's offensive on Gaza. That conflict began after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, and violence in the West Bank has risen sharply since then, continuing even after the ceasefire and spiking again with the onset of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Criticism from within Israel
Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, Israel's military chief, criticized the increase in settler attacks, calling it “morally and ethically unacceptable,” as reported by Dawn and the South China Morning Post. Reem Cohen, a researcher at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies, told the South China Morning Post that there has been “an increase in acts of Jewish terrorism since the start of the war with Iran,” along with a rise in “the severity of the acts.”
Government inaction and incidents
The Jerusalem Post reported that the government has done little to curb the violence, failing to prosecute most perpetrators and even deporting international activists who came to bear witness. The same outlet reported that IDF soldiers recently assaulted a CNN news crew covering the violence — a claim carried by a single outlet and not yet independently confirmed by other sources. The Jerusalem Post also noted that more than 1,000 Jewish leaders from around the globe signed a letter to President Isaac Herzog urging his intervention, calling the violence “an abomination” and “a strategic threat to the future of Israel.”
New legislation
According to the Jerusalem Post, a law making death by hanging the default punishment for non-Israelis convicted of terror-related murder in military courts was passed — a development that has drawn criticism from human rights groups, though the report provided limited context.
Perspectives
International diplomatic response
The European and Canadian diplomatic missions emphasized the urgency of addressing the violence, stating that they were “especially appalled by the killings of Palestinians over these past weeks.” Their joint statement calls for accountability and an end to settler violence, which they say is aimed at land takeover and forced displacement.
Israeli government and military
While the military chief has publicly condemned the attacks, the Israeli government has been accused of inaction. The Jerusalem Post suggests that the government's focus on what it calls a "justifiable war" against Iran may be distracting from West Bank issues, allowing violence to fester.
Domestic criticism from Jewish leaders
The letter from over 1,000 Jewish leaders represents a significant internal challenge, warning that the violence damages Israel's international standing and its relationship with world Jewry. The leaders urged President Herzog to intervene directly.
Regional and academic analysis
The South China Morning Post highlighted the views of researchers like Reem Cohen, who see a direct link between the war with Iran and the escalation of settler attacks. This perspective underscores that the violence is not a new phenomenon but has intensified in both frequency and severity since the war began.
Context and ongoing concerns
More than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements and outposts in the West Bank, alongside roughly three million Palestinians. These settlements are illegal under international law, according to the joint statement and longstanding international consensus. The violence continues despite the ceasefire in Gaza, and observers warn of an ongoing "environment of impunity" that enables further attacks.