Red Cross Warns West Bank Life 'Intolerable' Due to Settlements and Settler Violence

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) issued an urgent appeal on Tuesday for the protection of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, warning that escalating violence, movement restrictions, and accelerating settlement expansion are causing severe harm and making life "intolerable."

In a statement, the ICRC highlighted that hundreds of Palestinians have been killed or injured this year, with many displaced and their homes and property damaged or destroyed, leaving families without shelter or livelihoods. Julian Raemy, head of the ICRC's delegation in Israel and the occupied territories, called for an end to the "repeated and severe" violence.

Raemy emphasized that Israeli authorities have a responsibility to protect the population from violence, including that perpetrated by settlers, and to uphold international humanitarian law. He noted the "immense and devastating" humanitarian impact of the violence, including tragic loss of life and serious injuries.

He further explained that movement restrictions impede access to healthcare and education, isolate people from their homes and livelihoods, and push entire communities into worsening conditions. Raemy also pointed out that ambulances are sometimes delayed for hours at checkpoints or forced to take longer routes, hindering emergency response.

While acknowledging Israel's security needs, Raemy stated that as the occupying power, Israel has a duty under international humanitarian law to treat protected persons humanely, protect them from violence, and restore public order. He stressed that upholding international humanitarian law and occupation law, including halting settlement expansion, is crucial for restoring the population's safety and dignity.

The ICRC's statement comes amid a surge in settler violence and increased restrictions on Palestinian movement. Data from the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission indicates that settlers carried out 628 attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem in August. In June, UN experts warned that escalating settler violence, with alleged Israeli state support, poses an existential threat.