UN Inquiry Says Israeli Forces Shield Settlers as West Bank Attacks Jump 130%
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 9
UN Inquiry Says Israeli Forces Shield Settlers as West Bank Attacks Jump 130%
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 9
Summary
A U.N. commission said Israeli authorities directly enabled settler attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, with security forces routinely accompanying settlers and shielding assaults.
The inquiry said attacks on Palestinian villages and farmland have risen 130% since 2023, driven by financial and military support for settlers and impunity in Israel's judicial and law-enforcement systems.
At least seven Palestinians were killed and 832 injured last year, the U.N. said, with near-daily attacks continuing into 2026; the report also documented abductions, abuse of children and sexual violence threats.
Israel rejected the findings as unsubstantiated and said its army's role is to maintain security, while rights groups say soldier-misconduct probes rarely lead to punishment.
The same inquiry also found Hamas committed war crimes, citing at least 60 cases of executions or severe beatings in Gaza in 2024-2025 and reaffirming that the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel was a war crime.
A UN report links Israeli officials to settler war crimes. Will the international community finally impose sanctions?
US law forbids arming rights abusers. After this damning UN report, will Washington's policy on Israeli aid change?
UN: 870 Israeli Settler Attacks in West Bank in 2026 Spark Humanitarian Crisis and Global Sanctions
Overview
The United Nations Commission of Inquiry, led by S. Muralidhar, has highlighted the escalating violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, describing the daily assaults on Palestinians as intolerable and calling for urgent international action. This ongoing violence has caused severe harm to Palestinian communities, leading to widespread displacement and a deepening humanitarian crisis. The Commission believes that only external intervention can effectively address the situation, as the human toll continues to rise and families are forced from their homes. These findings underscore the urgent need for accountability and stronger global efforts to protect vulnerable populations.