News - Middle East: The United Nations says Israel’s raids and assaults on the occupied West Bank risk “seriously deepening” an already “catastrophic situation” there.

In a statement released on Wednesday, spokeswoman for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Ravina Shamdasani, said the 637 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank since October 7 was the highest death toll over a comparable period in two decades.

Violence by settlers and raids by Israeli forces have surged in the West Bank since Israel launched its barbaric military campaign in the besieged Gaza Strip in early October 2023.  

“Thousands of Palestinians have been arbitrarily arrested and tortured, subjected to unrelenting settler violence, severe restrictions on movement and expression, their homes and property destroyed or seized, and forcibly displaced,” the statement read. 

She slammed the regime for unnecessary use of force, saying many Palestinians including children have been killed while posing no imminent threat.

“Such unnecessary or disproportionate use of force and the increase in apparent targeted and other summary killings are alarming.”

“Many children have been killed while throwing stones at highly protected Israeli security forces, as have other Palestinians posing no imminent threat to life or serious injury,” Shamdasani said.

The spokeswoman said the Israeli regime is violating human rights norms and demanded it abide by its obligations under international law. 

“The Israeli security forces’ use of airstrikes and other military weapons and tactics violates human rights norms and standards applicable to law enforcement operations.”

Shamdasani said unlawful killings needed to be thoroughly and independently investigated, and those responsible held to account.

“Israel, as the occupying power, must abide by its obligations under international law.”

In the most recent aggression, at least 10 Palestinians were reported killed as Israel launched its largest assault on the occupied West Bank in years.

The Arab league has also denounced the Israeli incursion. It said the regime is waging its genocidal war against Palestinians everywhere to make living impossible on their own land.

Source: Press TV