Norwegian Refugee Council expressed in a report published on Friday, 11 August 2023 concern over Israeli settlers’ seizure of Palestinian territories, causing the displacement of 500 Palestinians from seven communities.
“There are entire Palestinian communities being wiped off the map, a shameful legacy of unrelenting violence, intimidation, and harassment perpetuated by Israeli settlers and, in some cases, encouraged by Israeli authorities,” said Ana Povrzenic, NRC’s Country Director for Palestine.
She added, “The rapid establishment of settlement outposts and takeover of Palestinian land is choking Palestinian communities, destroying their livelihoods and putting Palestinian lives at risk. Palestinians have no choice but to flee, leaving behind their homes, schools, and jobs.”
The NRC report spotlighted the forcible expulsion of a dozen Palestinian families, counting 89 Palestinians, including 39 children, from Ras At-Tin village, east of Ramallah.
Furthermore, the report warned that about 60 Palestinian communities in the Occupied West Bank face an increased danger of being forcibly expelled due to escalating violence by Israeli settlers and forces, the expansion of settlements, and Israel’s racist policies and actions, including its unlawful planning and zoning regime.
“Without holding Israel accountable, more Palestinian communities will be forcibly transferred,” warned Povrzenic. “How many more Ras At-Tins must there be before the international community acts?”
Israeli settlers’ attacks have escalated recently against the Palestinian citizens and their lands including attacking the Palestinian shepherds, preventing them from reaching their lands.
Since the beginning of 2023, Israeli settlers have carried out more than 591 attacks on Palestinians and their own property in the occupied West Bank, 230 of which caused property damage, and 60 of them caused injuries to Palestinian residents, according to Palestinian figures.
More than 650,000 colonial settlers were distributed among 164 illegal settlements and 124 outposts built on the stolen lands of occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.
The West Bank and Jerusalem lands are occupied territories based on International law due to this all Israeli settlement-building activities there are illegal.
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