UN human rights office warns of worsening settler violence in West Bank as attacks keep increasing

Lead

The UN human rights office has warned of worsening violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, urging international action against the killing of Palestinians and the creation of settlements, which it said had reached an all-time high. The warning, delivered Wednesday, comes amid a surge in clashes that have left Palestinians and Israelis dead in recent days.

According to United Nations figures cited by the Jerusalem Post, 18 Palestinians have been killed in incidents linked to settler attacks so far this year, compared with 17 in the whole of 2025.

Coverage comparison

The Jerusalem Post reported on the UN human rights office's statement, highlighting that settler violence and settlement expansion have intensified. The Post also carried a separate statement from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who called for urgent international action to stop settler violence and what he described as "ongoing Israeli military aggression."

The Hindu, reporting on the same UN statement, emphasized that settler violence and territorial annexation are "only getting worse" two years after the International Court of Justice ruled Israel's occupation of the West Bank unlawful. Both outlets quoted the UN human rights office spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, who described settlers and Israeli security forces as "often acting together" in attacks on local communities.

Key claims

The UN human rights office warned that settler violence and settlement expansion have intensified, with the creation of settlements reaching an all-time high, as reported by both the Jerusalem Post and The Hindu.

Eighteen Palestinians have been killed in incidents linked to settler attacks this year, according to UN figures reported by the Jerusalem Post.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 2024 that Israel's occupation of the West Bank was illegal, a finding Israel rejected as "fundamentally wrong and one-sided," as noted in the Jerusalem Post's reporting. The Hindu described the ruling as a non-binding advisory opinion.

Violence in the West Bank has surged since the Gaza war began, according to The Hindu's reporting.

The UN deputy special coordinator warned the UN Security Council that the situation in the West Bank was rapidly deteriorating, as reported by The Hindu.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said settler violence has gone beyond isolated incidents, labeling it a systemic Israeli policy issue. He cited property destruction, defacement of religious and agricultural sites, and "hundreds of civilian casualties" in recent escalations, including in East Jerusalem. He also referenced UN Resolution 2334, which underlines the illegality of Israeli settlements, claiming it has been consistently left unenforced, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.

Perspectives

UN human rights office: The office warned of worsening settler violence and settlement expansion, urging international action. Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said settlers and Israeli security forces have attacked local communities, assaulting families, destroying property, and burning mosques.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas: Abbas called for urgent international action, describing settler violence as systemic and part of an effort to undermine the Palestinian Authority and jeopardize a two-state solution. He has written letters to Arab leaders, the EU, the UN Security Council, and the League of Arab States.

Israeli government: Israel rejected the International Court of Justice's 2024 finding that its occupation is illegal, calling it "fundamentally wrong and one-sided."