The United Nations humanitarian office has spoken out against Israels actions in the occupied West Bank describing them as war-like. This statement comes after a week of violence that resulted in the deaths of nine Palestinians including a child
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) the situation has raised worries about the use of excessive force and its impact on the humanitarian needs of the local population. OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke shared these concerns during a press briefing in Geneva
Israeli forces have been using lethal war-like tactics in the West Bank‚ raising serious concerns over excessive use of force and deepening peoples humanitarian needs
The Israeli forces have stated that most of those killed were involved in attacks against Israelis. However‚ the UN agency has expressed alarm about the broader impact of these actions on the Palestinian community
Adding to the tensions‚ OCHA has reported numerous attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians during the annual olive harvest (which takes place every October-November). These attacks dont just target individuals but also olive groves - a crucial economic resource for many Palestinian families. Laerke mentioned that hundreds of olive trees have been damaged‚ cut down or stolen by settlers
The situation has become so severe that there are reports of a Palestinian woman being killed while harvesting olives in Jenin. This incident along with the destruction of olive trees‚ has raised serious concerns about the safety and livelihoods of Palestinian farmers
- Attacks on Palestinians during olive harvest
- Damage to hundreds of olive trees
- Economic impact on Palestinian families
- Safety concerns for farmers
As the harvest season continues‚ the UN agency has called for immediate action to protect Palestinian farmers and their property. The ongoing violence and destruction of agricultural resources threaten to worsen the already fragile humanitarian situation in the West Bank