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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 Palestinian territories under occupation.

Details of the Violent Incident

Three Italians and a Canadian were assaulted in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday in the community of Ein al-Duyuk, near Jericho. They had volunteered to help protect the Palestinian population from intensifying settler violence.

“In the early morning of November 30th, a group of ten masked settlers, some armed with military-style rifles, forced their way into the residence where we were resting after a night shift,” said the Canadian national.

Each of the four required hospital treatment and one, an Italian man, was still receiving care in Ramallah on Monday for more serious wounds.

Escalating Violence in the Village

The pace and intensity of attacks in Ein al-Duyuk have increased substantially over the past two months. This coincides with the creation of an unauthorized settler encampment nearby and the influx of new, confrontational settlers.

Local observers report that violent incidents have become an almost daily occurrence. These incidents have involved groups of settlers forcibly entering houses, beating villagers, and stealing livestock and property.

International Law and Official Responses

While all settlements on land seized in 1967 are illegal under international law, unauthorized outposts are also illegal under Israeli law. Ein al-Duyuk is in Area A of the West Bank, a zone meant to be administered of the Palestinian Authority.

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

The Italian foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, told reporters: “We cannot tolerate of this hostility. This is not the way for the settlers to make their claims.”

Lack of Intervention and Wider Situation

Villagers and activists report there has been no meaningful police intervention to stop the attacks or dismantle the outpost. Senior figures of the Israeli governing coalition actively support settlements in the territory.

According to UN figures that settlers and Israeli forces have taken the lives of over a thousand Palestinians, including hundreds of minors, in the West Bank over the last 24 months.

Perspective from the Ground

The Canadian volunteer added that, notwithstanding the violence, she felt the presence of volunteers in Ein al-Duyuk had been valuable.

“The residents felt more confident while we were present,” she said. “The children played freely. Families could sleep soundly. That alone made our presence justified.”

A Palestinian activist involved with groups that recruit foreign volunteers said the new outpost has brought in ideologically driven settlers who appear to be part of a coordinated network.