Israeli settlers conducted a record 264 attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank in October, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
This figure represents the highest monthly total since tracking began in 2006, averaging eight incidents per day and resulting in casualties and property damage. Since 2006, over 9,600 attacks have been documented, with approximately 1,500 occurring this year alone.
The West Bank, home to 2.7 million Palestinians, is central to aspirations for a future Palestinian state, yet expanding Israeli settlements continue to fragment the territory. The U.N. and the majority of countries consider these settlements illegal under international law, a claim disputed by Israel, which has over half a million settlers in the West Bank.
OCHA also reported that 42 Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank this year, representing 20% of the total fatalities from Israeli actions in the region. These incidents occurred amid a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza that has largely reduced fighting and facilitated the return of hostages.
With information from Reuters
