Escalating Violence: Palestinian Casualties in West Bank Amid Increased Settler Attacks

Israeli settlers shot dead one Palestinian and injured three others in Bethlehem. A subsequent Israeli strike on the Nur Shams refugee camp killed five more Palestinians. The Israeli military claims the strike targeted a militant operations center. The situation has led to rising international concern and sanctions from the U.S. and European countries.

In a violent encounter, Israeli settlers fatally shot one Palestinian and wounded three others in Bethlehem, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported. Five additional Palestinians lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike on the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm. The Israeli military claims the strike aimed at a militant operations center.

International concern has grown over recurrent accusations by Palestinians that Israeli security forces are allowing violent settler attacks on homes and villages. The U.S. and several European nations have imposed sanctions on violent settlers, urging Israel to implement measures to curb these attacks.

Clashes between Palestinians and the Israeli military have intensified, particularly after the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza last year. Health ministry figures indicate that 637 Palestinians, including armed fighters and civilians, have been killed in military operations. Concurrently, 30 Israelis have died in related violence.

(With inputs from agencies.)