Israeli forces behind displacing Palestinian communities, HRW says

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Human Rights Watch
18 Apr 2024 00:07

In addition to the theft of personal properties and livestock, the report details instances of assaults, torture, and sexual abuse against Palestinians.

Bashar al-Qaryoute, a Palestinian Red Crescent medic, displays bullet casings that he says he has collected from attacks by Israeli settlers and soldiers on his ambulance in the village of Qaryout in the northern West Bank, Sunday, November 12, 2023. (AP)

A report published by Human Rights Watch on Wednesday details how the Israeli military has contributed to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians by either backing settler violence or failing to protect Palestinians during episodes of settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

According to the report, settler violence has resulted in the displacement of residents from 20 Palestinian communities, with at least 7 being completely uprooted since October 7, 2023.

In addition to the theft of personal properties and livestock, the report details instances of assault, torture, and sexual abuse against Palestinians.

Death threats are also commonly used to coerce Palestinians into leaving their homes, the report notes.

"Settlers and soldiers have displaced entire Palestinian communities, destroying every home, with the apparent backing of higher Israeli authorities," said Bill Van Esveld, associate children’s rights director at Human Rights Watch.

Settler attacks on Palestinians increased in 2023 to their highest level since the UN began recording this data.

Abuses in the West Bank, fueled by decades of impunity and complacency among Israel’s allies, are soaring.

Read more: https://t.co/CTmnPcOUgG pic.twitter.com/0oDhUweRel
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) April 17, 2024

The report also details instances where armed settlers work in collaboration with units of the Israeli army to cut off road access and raid Palestinian communities.

Some residents report experiences of torture and sexual abuse, while others are forced out of their homes at gunpoint or coerced with death threats.

The investigation was conducted with the participation of 27 witnesses and reviewed videos filmed by residents depicting harassment by individuals in Israeli military uniforms carrying M16 assault rifles.

Despite inquiries from Human Rights Watch, the Israeli occupation forces had not responded to questions as of April 16.

Alongside the genocidal war that "Israel" has launched on #Gaza, the #WestBank is not safe from rising settler violence.#AlMayadeen's correspondent in #Ramallah reported that Israeli settlers attacked #Palestinians in the villages of Deir Dibwan and Baytin and set fire to their… pic.twitter.com/X0ggyJmmfY
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 13, 2024

Settler attacks on Palestinians reached their highest level in 2023, even before the October 7 operation unfolded. Following these attacks, the Israeli military called up 5,500 settlers who were Israeli army reservists, some of whom have records of violence against Palestinians. They were assigned to the occupied West Bank "regional defense" battalions, and thousands of guns were distributed to battalion members and others.

The UN has documented over 700 settler attacks since October 7, with soldiers present in nearly half of the incidents. These attacks have displaced over 1,200 people, including 600 children, from rural herding communities. According to UN reports, at least 17 Palestinians were killed and 400 wounded, while Palestinians have killed 7 settlers in the West Bank since October 7.