OMM Newsroom
The UN on Thursday condemned an Israeli settler takeover of Palestinian homes near Jericho in the occupied West Bank, saying dozens of Palestinians were displaced, Anadolu Agency reported.
“Settlers reportedly used live ammunition, physically assaulted Palestinian residents, and caused some injuries,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.
Israeli forces later declared the area a closed military zone, preventing humanitarian partners from visiting those affected, Dujarric said.
“We once again condemn all of these violent activities by the Israeli settlers,” he said.
Dujarric said 377 settler attacks that caused casualties or damage to Palestinian property had been recorded since September during the olive harvest. He said that was the highest number since the UN humanitarian office OCHA began keeping records in 2006.
One Palestinian was killed by a settler, more than 200 were injured, and more than 3,850 olive trees and saplings were damaged or vandalized, Dujarric said.
He said between 80,000 and 100,000 Palestinian families across the West Bank depend on the olive harvest for their livelihoods.
“Safe access to livelihoods must be facilitated, and those responsible for attacks must be held to account,” Dujarric said.
