Warning about spiral of violence in Middle East

According to statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, since the beginning of this year, more than 200 people have been killed in acts of violence related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The international community warned, that if the recent clashes in the occupied West Bank are not resolved in time, it could cause an out-of-control spiral of violence in the Middle East.

Violence was said to have exploded again in the West Bank, after a raid by the Israeli army. On June 20, two gunmen from the Islamist Resistance Movement (Hamas) launched a shooting attack that killed four Israelis near the settlement of Eli.

Clashes between Jewish settlers and Palestinians ensued. The videos on the internet show the two sides throwing stones at each other. A fire broke out in the village next to the Shiloh settlement, not far from the Eli settlement.

Israel's Supreme Planning Council in charge of construction activity in the West Bank seemed to "add fuel to the fire" by approving the construction of thousands of settlements, including more than 1,000 in Eli. According to Peace Now, an organisation that tracks Israel's settlement, since January 2023, more than 13,000 houses have been licensed by Israel to be built in settlements, far exceeding the number of 4,427 houses licensed in 2022.

In a statement, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General reaffirmed that settlements are a flagrant violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that Israel's continuous expansion of settlements deepens humanitarian needs, fuels violence and increases the risk of confrontation and undermines the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. The expansion of settlements is hindering efforts to achieve a two-state solution and create a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.

According to the US State Department spokesperson, US officials have expressed their opposition to Israel's move of promoting settlement construction. Washington also considers these settlements an obstacle to a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian issue. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked the Israeli government not to undermine the prospect of the formation of a Palestinian state and warned that violence would hinder progress in advancing agreements to normalise relations between Israel and Arab countries.

Expressing concern about the violent situation in the West Bank, China stressed that the Middle East peace issue has not been resolved for more than half a century. At a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the first Arab leader that Beijing hosted in 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that the basic solution for Middle East peace lies in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with full sovereignty based on the 1967 border demarcation, with East Jerusalem as the capital. China called for increased humanitarian and development assistance to Palestine and the maintenance of peace negotiations.

Senior Israeli and Palestinian leaders have maintained contacts to defuse the situation. In a phone call with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli President Isaac Herzog emphasised the importance of the fight against terrorism, incitement and hatred, while condemning the recent attacks of “radical elements”, targeting innocent Palestinians. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant also had a phone call with Palestinian Authority Civil Affairs Minister Hussein Al-Sheikh, confirming Tel Aviv's commitment to severely punish those who cause riots.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said, that the parties of the conflict need to address the basic factors leading to violence and this requires the political will of all parties, including Israel, Palestine and the international community. Israel should urgently review and reset its policy and compliance with international humanitarian law to ensure public order and safety in the occupied Palestinian territories.

NDO