Key Takeaways:
- Italian and Canadian citizens were beaten and robbed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank
- The attack occurred in the village of Ein al-Duyuk, where the victims had volunteered to help protect the Palestinian population from settler violence
- The incident has sparked condemnation from the Canadian and Italian governments, with calls for an end to settler violence and annexation of Palestinian territories
- The Israeli authorities have been criticized for their lack of intervention to stop the attacks and dismantle the settler outpost
- The presence of international volunteers in Ein al-Duyuk has been seen as valuable in providing a sense of security and normalcy for the local population
Introduction to the Incident
The recent attack on Italian and Canadian citizens in the occupied West Bank has raised concerns about the treatment of foreigners in the region. The incident occurred in the village of Ein al-Duyuk, near Jericho, where the victims had volunteered to help protect the Palestinian population from intensifying settler violence. The attack, which took place in the early hours of Sunday morning, resulted in the hospitalization of all four victims, with one Italian man still receiving care for more substantial injuries. The Canadian volunteer, who wished to remain anonymous, described the attack in a written account, stating that 10 masked settlers, two of whom were carrying army-issued rifles, burst into the home where they were sleeping and beat them for approximately 15 minutes.
The Attack and Its Aftermath
The attack on the Italian and Canadian citizens is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a larger pattern of violence and intimidation by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. The pace and intensity of attacks in Ein al-Duyuk have increased substantially over the past two months, since the establishment of a settler outpost nearby and the arrival of young and aggressive settlers. Activists say that violent incidents have become an almost daily occurrence, with attacks including settler mobs breaking into homes and beating villagers, stealing livestock and cars, and destroying solar panels. The Canadian volunteer noted that the attack on them was not just about the physical harm inflicted, but also about the message it sent to the Palestinian population, stating that "this is not about us. We were beaten for 15 minutes. Palestinians here endure this violence every day, every hour, a thousand-fold."
International Condemnation
The attack has sparked condemnation from the Canadian and Italian governments, with both countries calling for an end to settler violence and annexation of Palestinian territories. The Canadian foreign ministry stated that it "strongly condemns the violent acts committed by extremist settlers and opposes any actions or talk about annexation of the Palestinian territories." The Italian foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, told reporters that "we have had enough of this aggression. This is not the way [for the settlers] to assert their rights." The Israeli authorities in the West Bank have been approached for comment, but villagers and activists say that there has been no meaningful police intervention to stop the attacks or dismantle the outpost.
The Role of International Volunteers
The presence of international volunteers in Ein al-Duyuk has been seen as valuable in providing a sense of security and normalcy for the local population. The Canadian volunteer noted that, despite the attack and her injury, she felt that the presence of volunteers in the village had been worthwhile, stating that "the villagers stood taller while we were present. The children played freely. People slept through the night. That alone made our presence worthwhile." Manal Tamimi, a Palestinian activist in the organization Faz3a, which recruits foreign volunteers to help protect Palestinian villages in the West Bank, said that the presence of international volunteers is crucial in deterring settler violence and providing support to the local population.
The Broader Context
The attack on the Italian and Canadian citizens is part of a larger pattern of violence and displacement of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. According to UN figures, Israeli settlers and security forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians, including 233 children, in the West Bank over the past two years. Many Israeli and Palestinian observers believe that this violence is part of a concerted campaign to seize territory and displace the Palestinian population. The establishment of settler outposts, such as the one near Ein al-Duyuk, is seen as a key part of this strategy, as it allows settlers to expand their presence in the area and intimidate the local population. The lack of intervention by the Israeli authorities to stop these attacks and dismantle the outposts has been widely criticized, with many calling for greater accountability and protection for the Palestinian population.
