The European Union has demanded this Friday that Israel intervene without delay to put an end to the violence exercised by settlers against the Palestinian population in the West Bank and has called for those responsible to be held accountable before the Justice, while criticizing the latest statements by the Israeli Minister of National Security, the far-right Itamar Ben Gvir, regarding Gaza.
In a statement released by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the 27 have drawn attention to the situation in the town of Qusra, where several families have been confined to their homes for more than a week due to the assaults by settlers.
In this scenario, the community institutions have denounced the rise in attacks carried out by extremist settlers, which include acts of intimidation and harassment, property destruction, and physical assaults that, according to Brussels, aim to force Palestinians out of their homes.
"The acts of intimidation, harassment, destruction of property, and physical assaults against Palestinians, perpetrated to expel them from their homes, must cease immediately," the European bloc has stated, recalling that it has repeatedly condemned this type of violence.
From Brussels, they have also reiterated that Israel must take firm measures to contain these attacks and ensure that their perpetrators are prosecuted. In this regard, they have emphasized that International Law obliges Israel to guarantee the protection of the Palestinian population in the occupied territories.
On the other hand, the Union has "strongly" expressed its rejection of the recent statements by Ben Gvir regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip, as well as the videos and images that have subsequently been circulated on the Internet.
"The use of such offensive and inciting language is unacceptable and must not go unpunished," the EU has warned, emphasizing that it is the responsibility of the Israeli government to take responsibility and contain this type of rhetoric.
The community statement highlights the concern of the European Union both for the escalation of violence by settlers in the West Bank and for the discourse of members of the Israeli government regarding Gaza, in a context of increasing tension in the Palestinian territories.