President Joe Biden of the United States has called for the cessation of escalating attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The violence has increased following the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7 and Israel’s continued bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip. Palestinian authorities have reported that some Palestinians have been killed by settlers, and rights groups claim that settlers have targeted small Bedouin communities, compelling them to relocate. Biden emphasized the need for an end to these attacks by “extremist settlers” and stressed the importance of holding them accountable.
Settler violence had been steadily rising prior to the current conflict between Israel and Hamas. The violence commenced on October 7 when Hamas carried out an attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,400 people, predominantly civilians, with approximately 220 individuals taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities.
Subsequently, Israel imposed a complete siege on Gaza and subjected the territory to heavy bombardment. Palestinian authorities report that the Israeli assault has resulted in a death toll of at least 6,546 people and more than 17,439 injuries. In the occupied West Bank, tensions have escalated as Israel conducted mass arrests, intensified military raids, and settlers attacked Palestinians, leading to the displacement of numerous communities.
The West Bank Protection Consortium, comprising non-governmental organizations and donor countries such as the European Union, stated that settler attacks have forcibly displaced hundreds of Palestinians. Biden acknowledged that these attacks exacerbate an already dangerous situation but did not outline the measures, if any, that the US would take to pressure Israel to curtail the violence, which occasionally occurs in the presence of Israeli soldiers.
Furthermore, Biden expressed skepticism regarding the accuracy of the death toll reported by Hamas authorities in Gaza, remarking that casualties are an inevitable consequence of warfare. Khaled Elgindy, a fellow at the Brookings Institute’s Center for Middle East Policy, criticized Biden’s comment, asserting that it demonstrated a lack of empathy towards Palestinians.
Biden also clarified that he has not directly sought assurances from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding a potential ground invasion into Gaza before the release of hostages. While he indicated that, if feasible, Israel should prioritize the safe extraction of these individuals, he did not demand it and emphasized that the decision ultimately rests with the Israeli government’s special war cabinet. Netanyahu announced earlier that the government would determine the timing and details of the operation, adding that thousands of terrorists have already been killed, with preparations underway for a ground invasion.