Roland Friedrich
In the occupied West Bank, settler violence continues unhindered. According to @ochaopt, more than 1000 settler attacks have taken place this year alone, impacting some 230 communities. Since the death of Awdah Hathaleen in July this year, the pressure on the Bedouin community of Umm al Kheir has been unrelenting. No one was ever convicted for Awdah’s killing, despite his last moments having been clearly captured on video. Instead, in recent weeks, multiple Israeli settler caravans have been set up in close proximity to the village, further limiting movement, and the grazing areas for animals. Settler construction works and land levelling cut parts of the community off electricity and water for days. These are basic necessities without which life becomes unlivable. All this has a strangling effect on the Palestine refugee community already facing an uphill battle against government sanctioned settlement expansion. Since October 2023, some 3000 Palestinians in the #WestBank have already had no choice but to leave their homes due to the coercive environment resulting from settler violence and access restrictions. #UmmAlKheir should not become the next community forced to leave their land. Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. There should be no impunity for settler attacks, and communities at risk of #ForcedDisplacement should be protected and supported. @UNRWA and other humanitarian organizations serving these communities need to be empowered and guaranteed their #HumanitarianSpace to operate. #UNGA80
