DaysofPal- The United Nations Human Rights Office has reported that at least 982 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and armed settlers in the occupied West Bank since October 7, 2023, marking one of the deadliest periods in the territory in decades.
The UN agency highlighted that the figure underscores the “systematic and intensifying campaign of violence, oppression, and coercion” by Israeli forces and settlers that targets Palestinians in the West Bank, which has escalated sharply since the start of the war in Gaza.
One of the most recent examples cited was the Israeli raid on al-Mughayyir village, northeast of Ramallah, where forces destroyed nearly 3,000 olive trees belonging to Palestinian farmers, according to the head of the local council.
The destruction not only represents a severe economic blow to villagers, who rely heavily on olive harvesting for their livelihoods, but also reflects what rights groups describe as a broader strategy to displace Palestinians from their lands.
Witnesses reported that during the raid, Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition and tear gas, sparking confrontations that left several Palestinians injured.
Residents described the atmosphere as one of “collective punishment,” with many families left without access to their agricultural lands.
The UN warned that alongside the killings, widespread settler violence, land confiscation, home demolitions, and restrictions on movement are creating “unbearable living conditions” for Palestinians.
Human rights groups have repeatedly accused the Israeli occupation of using these tactics to push communities into forced displacement, in violation of international law.
Since October 2023, Israeli raids across cities, refugee camps, and villages in the West Bank have become almost daily occurrences.
Local monitors say that arrests, home raids, and the targeting of farmlands and infrastructure are part of a coordinated effort to weaken Palestinian presence in the area.
The death toll in the West Bank comes on top of the staggering humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, where tens of thousands have been killed under relentless bombardment. Rights advocates warn that the situation in the West Bank risks being overshadowed, even as Palestinians there face mounting levels of lethal force and systematic dispossession.
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