Ihab Hassan says Israeli settlers face no consequences for West Bank attacks
Updated
Updated · Vatican News - English · May 9
Ihab Hassan says Israeli settlers face no consequences for West Bank attacks
1 articles · Updated · Vatican News - English · May 9
He cited arson, vandalism and quarry occupation in Taybeh, and said 16 Palestinians had been killed in the West Bank since January, including two in a school attack in Mughayyir.
Hassan said violence now stretches from Hebron to Jenin and blamed Israeli policy, after Israel approved a record 34 new West Bank settlements that he called launch bases for attacks.
He linked the worsening situation to an effort called Save West Bank Christians, which says illegal settlements pose an existential threat to ancient Christian communities and urges international solidarity and pressure.
Why are internationally-condemned settlements expanding faster than ever across the West Bank?
As the West Bank's last Christian village is besieged, is its 2,000-year history ending?
With 96% of settler violence cases dismissed, is impunity now an official Israeli policy?
2026 Surge in Settler Violence Displaces Record Number of Palestinians in West Bank: UN Reports Systemic Impunity and Humanitarian Crisis
Overview
In 2026, settler violence in the West Bank reached alarming new heights, with a sharp escalation that displaced more Palestinians than the previous year. This surge intensified in early March, coinciding with the outbreak of war in Iran, as documented by human rights groups who recorded around 50 violent incidents in just four days, affecting dozens of Palestinian communities. These attacks included shootings, assaults, and property destruction, reflecting a pattern of increasing aggression since the Hamas-led attack in October 2023. The violence has created a severe humanitarian crisis, deepening insecurity and hardship for Palestinian families across the region.