Jewish Colonists Attack and Rob European and North American Volunteers in West Bank

Italy and Canada have raised concerns about the treatment of their citizens who were beaten and robbed by Israeli settlers in the Palestinian territories under occupation.

Details of the Violent Incident

A group comprising three Italians and one Canadian were assaulted in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday in the village of Ein al-Duyuk, near Jericho. They were serving to help shield Palestinian residents from intensifying settler violence.

“In the early morning of November 30th, 10 masked settlers, two carrying army-issued rifles, burst into the home where we were sleeping after night-watch,” stated the Canadian volunteer.

All four were hospitalised and one, an Italian man, was still receiving care in Ramallah on Monday for more substantial injuries.

Rising Tensions in Ein al-Duyuk

The pace and intensity of attacks in Ein al-Duyuk have increased substantially over the last eight weeks. This coincides with the establishment of a settler outpost in the vicinity and the arrival of young and aggressive settlers.

Activists say that aggressive acts have become an routine event. Attacks have included groups of settlers breaking into homes, beating villagers, and taking sheep, vehicles, and destroying solar panels.

International Law and Official Responses

While all settlements on land seized in 1967 are illegal under international law, unauthorized 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 Authority.

The Canadian foreign ministry 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, Minister Tajani, told reporters: “We have had enough of this hostility. This is not the way for the settlers to assert their rights.”

Lack of Intervention and Broader Context

Villagers and activists report there has been little effective action by security forces to halt the assaults or dismantle the outpost. Senior figures of the current Israeli government are vocal backers of West Bank settlers.

According to UN figures that settlers and Israeli forces have taken the lives of over a thousand Palestinians, including hundreds of minors, in the West Bank over the last 24 months.

Perspective from the Ground

The injured Canadian added that, notwithstanding the violence, she felt the international presence in the village had been valuable.

“The villagers stood taller while we were present,” she said. “The children played freely. People slept through the night. Just that made our presence justified.”

A local organizer involved with groups that recruit foreign volunteers said the new outpost has brought in far-right wing settlers who appear to be part of a coordinated network.