US ‘will not stand by and watch’ settler rampages: Official
Washington’s ambassador to "Israel", Tom Nides, sympathizes with Palestinians, stressing that "no one should have to worry about a rogue army,” in reference to the Israeli occupation forces.
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A Palestinian gestures inside his home, which was set on fire by Israeli settlers, in Turmus Aya near Ramallah, on June 22, 2023. (AFP)
Commenting on the two consecutive settler rampages, Washington’s ambassador to "Israel", Tom Nides, said that the US “will not stand by and watch settler violence” in the occupied West Bank. “We will not stand by and watch settler violence occur. No one should have to worry about a rogue army,” the US envoy said.
Addressing a gathering in "Tel Aviv", Nides said he has “an emotional connection to the Israeli and Palestinian families. No one wants to stand by and watch that happen. My heart breaks for all these families.”
On Wednesday, one Palestinian was martyred and dozens were injured following an attack by illegal Israeli settlers on the town of Turmus Aya, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, as settlers ravaged Palestinian villages, setting homes, shops, and cars on fire.
A video shows two armed Israeli settlers shooting at Palestinians, injuring five and killing one, during their brutal attack in Turmusaya town, northeast of Ramallah. pic.twitter.com/hHKguK4nFI
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) June 23, 2023
The ambassador made this statement in response to accusations that he had compared the four Israelis slain on Tuesday to "Palestinian gunmen" who had killed Israeli occupation forces during a previous raid on Jenin.
Earlier, Nides voiced concern over violence in the occupied West Bank in a post on Twitter. Simultaneously, he faced harsh criticism for doing so.
Deeply concerned about the civilian deaths and injuries that have occurred in the West Bank these past 48 hours, including that of minors. Praying for the families as they mourn the loss of loved ones, or tend to those injured.
— Ambassador Tom Nides (@USAmbIsrael) June 20, 2023
Despite the US publicly criticizing the Israeli occupation's plans, the Israeli news website Haaretz revealed in 2015 that at least 50 organizations in the United States were involved in fundraising for illegal Israeli settlements.
It is noteworthy that under international law, all Israeli settlements are illegal, and the United Nations Security Council has condemned Israeli settlement activities in the occupied territories in several resolutions.
