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The governments of Italy and Canada have expressed alarm about the treatment of their nationals who were beaten and robbed by Jewish settlers in the Palestinian territories under occupation.

Details of the Brutal Assault

A group comprising three Italians and one Canadian were attacked early on Sunday morning in the village of Ein al-Duyuk, near Jericho. They were serving to help shield Palestinian residents from intensifying settler violence.

“In the early morning of November 30th, 10 masked settlers, two carrying army-issued rifles, forced their way into the residence where we were sleeping after night-watch,” said the Canadian national.

Each of the four required hospital treatment and one, an Italian man, was still receiving care in the city of Ramallah on Monday for more serious wounds.

Rising Tensions in Ein al-Duyuk

The frequency and severity of attacks in Ein al-Duyuk have risen dramatically over the last eight weeks. This follows the creation of an unauthorized settler encampment in the vicinity and the arrival of young and aggressive settlers.

Local observers report that violent incidents have become an almost daily occurrence. These incidents have involved groups of settlers forcibly entering houses, beating villagers, and stealing livestock and property.

Legal Status and Government Reactions

While all settlements on land seized in 1967 are considered unlawful by the international community, unauthorized outposts are also against Israeli domestic statutes. 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 is against any measures 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 anyone to assert their rights.”

Lack of Intervention and Wider Situation

Villagers and activists report there has been no meaningful police intervention to halt the assaults or dismantle the outpost. Senior figures of the Israeli governing coalition are vocal backers of West Bank settlers.

According to UN figures 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 added that, despite the attack, she felt the presence of volunteers in the village had been valuable.

“The residents felt more confident while we were present,” she said. “Kids were able to play outside. People slept through the night. Just that made our presence worthwhile.”

A Palestinian activist working with groups that recruit foreign volunteers said the recent encampment has brought in far-right wing settlers who seem to belong to an organised group.