Israeli Settlers Attack and Rob Italian and Canadian Volunteers in West Bank

Italy and Canada have raised concerns regarding the handling of their nationals who were assaulted and robbed by Jewish settlers in the Palestinian territories under occupation.

Particulars Surrounding the Brutal Assault

Three Italians and a Canadian were attacked early on Sunday morning in the village of Ein al-Duyuk, near the city of Jericho. They were serving to help protect the Palestinian population from intensifying settler violence.

“At 4.30am on 30 November, 10 masked settlers, some armed with military-style rifles, burst into the home where we were resting after a night shift,” said the Canadian national.

Each of the four required hospital treatment and one, an Italian man, was still receiving care in the city of Ramallah on Monday for more substantial injuries.

Escalating Violence in Ein al-Duyuk

The pace and intensity of attacks in Ein al-Duyuk have increased substantially over the last eight weeks. This coincides with the creation of an unauthorized settler encampment in the vicinity and the influx of new, confrontational settlers.

Local observers report that violent incidents have become an almost daily occurrence. Attacks have included settler mobs breaking into homes, beating villagers, and stealing livestock and property.

International Law and Government Reactions

Although all Israeli communities on land seized in 1967 are considered unlawful by the international community, irregular outposts are also against Israeli domestic statutes. The village is located within Area A of the West Bank, a zone theoretically under the control of the Palestinian governing body.

Canada's Department of Global Affairs stated it “utterly rejects the acts of violence committed by extremist settlers and opposes any actions or talk about annexation of the Palestinian territories.”

Italy's top diplomat, Antonio Tajani, told reporters: “We cannot tolerate of this hostility. This is not the way for anyone to make their claims.”

Absence of Protection and Broader Context

Residents and advocates report there has been no meaningful police intervention to halt the assaults or remove the illegal settlement. Senior figures of the current Israeli government are vocal backers of West Bank settlers.

According to UN figures that settlers and Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians, including 233 children, in the West Bank over the last 24 months.

Voice of the Volunteers

The injured Canadian noted that, notwithstanding the violence, she felt the presence of volunteers in Ein al-Duyuk had been valuable.

“The villagers stood taller while we were present,” she said. “The children played freely. People slept through the night. That alone made our presence worthwhile.”

A local organizer working with groups that recruit foreign volunteers said the new outpost has brought in far-right wing settlers who seem to belong to an organised group.