Concerned About Operations In The West Bank, Britain Asks Israel To Hold Back And Obey International Law

JAKARTA - The British government on Friday said it was "deeply concerned" by Israel's ongoing operation in the occupied West Bank of Palestine, warning of the risk of serious instability and there was an urgent need for de-escalation.

"We continue to ask Israeli authorities to exercise restraint, comply with international law, and take action against those seeking to escalate tensions," a spokesman for the British Foreign Office said in a statement.

Clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank have escalated since Israel's war with Hamas militants began in the Gaza Strip nearly 11 months ago.

More than 660 people - combatants and civilians - have been killed, according to Palestinian tallies, some by Jewish settlers who have carried out frequent self-judicial attacks on the Palestinian community in the West Bank.

Most recently, Israeli forces killed a local commander of the Iran-backed Islamic Jihad movement in the West Bank and four other militants on Thursday, in a shootout during one of the biggest attacks on Israeli-occupied territory for months.

"We are aware of Israel's need to defend itself against security threats, but we are deeply concerned about the methods used by Israel, as well as reports of civilian casualties and destruction of civilian infrastructure," a Foreign Office spokesman said.

The spokesman added that Britain "condemns the violence of settlers", and there is no interest whatsoever in spreading conflict and further instability in the occupied West Bank.