Israeli settlements surge amidst Gaza war

Violence has flared in the Occupied West Bank. At least five Palestinians, including two children, have been killed in an Israeli air strike on a refugee camp, and one Palestinian man was shot dead in an attack by Israeli settlers near Bethlehem.

The West Bank has seen a surge in violence since the October 7 attacks. 607 Palestinians have been killed, largely in Israeli military raids, while attacks by settlers have displaced more than 1,500. In the same period, 25 Israelis have been killed by Palestinians.

There’s also been an acceleration of Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank – illegal under international law, but a key aim of the current Israeli government.

Since the start of last year, it has approved more than 20,000 new homes in the West Bank, despite the UN branding it a war crime and making a ‘two state solution’ next to impossible.