176 People Killed In The West Bank, UN High-HAM Official Urges Israel To Protect Palestinians

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. (Twitter/@volker_turk)

JAKARTA - UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Turk on Friday urged Israel to take immediate action to protect Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, as they have been subjected to violence since the Israeli-Hamas war broke out last month.

Turk said at least 176 Palestinians, including 43 children and one woman, had been killed in incidents involving Israeli security forces since early October. In addition, at least eight Palestinians have been killed by Israeli settlers.

"I urge Israeli authorities to take immediate action, take steps to ensure the protection of Palestinians in the West Bank, which is the target of violence from Israeli troops and settlers every day, mistreatment, arrests, evictions, intimidation, and insults", Turk told reporters in Amman, Jordan.

The worsening of violence in the West Bank has sparked concern that the Palestinian territories could become the third front in a broader war, in addition to Israel's northern border where clashes with Lebanese Hezbollah forces also occurred.

"It is Israel's duty to ensure that all violent incidents are investigated quickly and effectively, with the victims given an effective solution," Turk said.

"The continued widespread impunity of such violations is unacceptable, dangerous and is clearly a violation of Israel's obligations based on international human rights law," he explained.

Before the war in Gaza broke out, this year became the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank, where about 200 people have died since the start of the year.

Apart from Gaza, Israel also carried out counter-terrorism operations against other Palestinian armed faction Hamas militants in the West Bank. Apart from the militants, those killed included youths throwing stones and civilians who were not involved, and made thousands of arrests throughout the region.