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Italy and Canada have raised concerns about the treatment of their nationals who were beaten and robbed by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Particulars Surrounding the Brutal Assault

Three Italians and a Canadian were assaulted in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday in the village of Ein al-Duyuk, near the city of Jericho. They were serving to help shield Palestinian residents from intensifying settler violence.

“In the early morning of November 30th, 10 masked settlers, two carrying army-issued rifles, burst into the home where we were sleeping after night-watch,” said the Canadian national.

Each of the four required hospital treatment and one, an male Italian volunteer, was continuing to undergo treatment in Ramallah on Monday for more serious wounds.

Escalating Violence in the Village

The frequency and severity of attacks in Ein al-Duyuk have risen dramatically over the last eight weeks. This follows the establishment of a settler outpost in the vicinity and the arrival of young and aggressive settlers.

Local observers report that violent incidents have become an routine event. Attacks have included settler mobs forcibly entering houses, beating villagers, and taking sheep, vehicles, and destroying solar panels.

Legal Status and Government Reactions

Although all Israeli communities on land seized in 1967 are illegal under international law, irregular outposts are also against Israeli domestic statutes. Ein al-Duyuk is in Area A of the West Bank, a zone theoretically under the control of the Palestinian Authority.

The Canadian foreign ministry stated it “utterly rejects the violent acts committed by radical settlers and opposes any actions or talk about absorbing Palestinian land.”

Italy's top diplomat, Minister Tajani, told reporters: “We have had enough of this aggression. This is not the way for anyone to make their claims.”

Lack of Intervention and Wider Situation

Residents and advocates report there has been no meaningful police intervention to stop the attacks or dismantle the outpost. Senior figures of the current Israeli government are vocal backers of West Bank settlers.

According to UN figures that settlers and Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians, including 233 children, in the West Bank over the last 24 months.

Voice of the Volunteers

The Canadian volunteer added that, notwithstanding the violence, she felt the international presence in the village had been meaningful.

“The villagers stood taller while we were present,” she said. “The children played freely. People slept through the night. That alone made our presence worthwhile.”

A local organizer involved with groups that bring in international observers said the new outpost has brought in ideologically driven settlers who appear to be part of a coordinated network.