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Italy and Canada have raised concerns about the treatment of their citizens who were assaulted and robbed by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Details of the Brutal Assault

Three Italians and a Canadian were attacked early on Sunday morning in the village of Ein al-Duyuk, near Jericho. They had volunteered to help shield Palestinian residents from escalating violence by settlers.

“In the early morning of November 30th, 10 masked settlers, two carrying army-issued rifles, burst into the home where we were sleeping after night-watch,” stated the Canadian volunteer.

All four were hospitalised and one, an Italian man, was still receiving care in Ramallah on Monday for more serious wounds.

Rising Tensions in Ein al-Duyuk

The pace and intensity of attacks in this area have increased substantially over the past two months. This coincides with the creation of an unauthorized settler encampment in the vicinity and the influx of new, confrontational settlers.

Local observers report that aggressive acts have become an almost daily occurrence. Attacks have included settler mobs breaking into homes, assaulting residents, and taking sheep, vehicles, and destroying solar panels.

International Law and Official Responses

Although all Israeli communities 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 theoretically under the control of the Palestinian governing body.

Canada's Department of Global Affairs stated it “utterly rejects the violent acts committed by radical settlers and opposes any actions or talk about annexation of the Palestinian territories.”

Italy's top diplomat, Antonio Tajani, told reporters: “We have had enough of this aggression. This is not the way for the settlers to assert their rights.”

Lack of Intervention and Broader Context

Villagers and activists report there has been no meaningful police intervention to halt the assaults or dismantle the outpost. Leading members of the current Israeli government are vocal backers of West Bank settlers.

United Nations data indicates that settlers and Israeli forces have taken the lives of over a thousand Palestinians, including 233 children, in the West Bank over the past two years.

Voice of the Volunteers

The Canadian volunteer noted that, despite the attack, she felt the international presence in Ein al-Duyuk had been meaningful.

“The residents felt more confident while we were present,” she said. “The children played freely. People slept through the night. That alone made our presence worthwhile.”

A Palestinian activist involved with groups that bring in international observers said the new outpost has brought in far-right wing settlers who seem to belong to an organised group.