UN calls Israeli settler attack in West Bank 'horrific'

GENEVA, Aug 16 (Agencies): The United Nations on Friday said the deadly Israeli settler attack on a village in the occupied West Bank was "horrific", adding that "by and large, we are seeing impunity" for such attacks.

One UN rights official said the Israeli state was responsible for at least some of the deadly violence in the Palestinian territory, adding it "needs to stop".

"There are reports of Israeli security forces standing by as attacks take place," UN human rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told a press briefing.

"There are even reports of weapons being distributed to the settlers. So there is clearly a state responsibility in this regard."

The Israeli military said "dozens of Israeli civilians, some of them masked", had entered Jit, west of Nablus, on Thursday, and "set fire to vehicles and structures in the area, hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails". "It was horrific," said Shamdasani.

"What is striking and important to remember is that yesterday's killing in Jit is not an isolated attack, and it is the direct consequence of Israel's policy of settlement in the West Bank," she added.

"We have been reporting for the past years about settlers attacking Palestinian communities in their land in the West Bank with impunity, and this really is the crux of the matter: the impunity that the perpetrators of such grave violations have been enjoying."

Violence in the West Bank, a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967 and separated from the Gaza Strip by Israeli territory, has surged since the Gaza war started on October 7.

Meanwhile, Negotiators were to meet in Qatar again on Friday seeking a Gaza ceasefire agreement that could help avert regional escalation, end a war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, and free Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

The latest round of talks between Israel and mediators began on Thursday and was expected to resume on Friday after noon prayers. Mediators have said they are briefing Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is not taking direct part in the talks, on developments.

"This is vital work. The remaining obstacles can be overcome, and we must bring this process to a close," US national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters at the White House.

W House slams 'unacceptable'

Israeli settler violence

The White House on Thursday condemned what it called "unacceptable" attacks on Palestinians by Jewish settlers, after one person was killed and another wounded in a village in the occupied West Bank.

"Attacks by violent settlers against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank are unacceptable and must stop," a National Security Council spokesperson said in a statement.

"Israeli authorities must take measures to protect all communities from harm, this includes intervening to stop such violence, and holding all perpetrators of such violence to account."

The Palestinian health ministry said a 23-year-old man was killed and another suffered critical gunshot wounds to the chest in the attack on the village of Jit, west of Nablus.