UN condemns Israeli occupier takeover of Palestinian homes near Jericho

The UN on Thursday condemned an Israeli settler takeover of Palestinian homes near the occupied West Bank city of Jericho, which it said displaced dozens of Palestinians. “Settlers reportedly used live ammunition, physically assaulted Palestinian residents, and caused some injuries,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters. He said Israeli forces then declared a closed military zone, “which has prevented our humanitarian partners from visiting those affected.”

“We once again condemn all of these violent activities by the Israeli settlers,” Dujarric said. He said 377 occupier attacks causing casualties or damage to Palestinian property have been recorded since September during the olive harvest, the highest number since the UN humanitarian office OCHA began keeping records in 2006. One Palestinian was killed by an occupier, more than 200 were injured, and more than 3,850 olive trees and saplings were damaged or vandalized, he said.

Dujarric said 80,000 to 100,000 Palestinian families across the West Bank depend on the olive harvest for their livelihoods. “Safe access to livelihoods must be facilitated, and those responsible for attacks must be held to account,” he said.