WEST BANK: US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has called on Israel to protect Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, warning that residents have a right to live safely as settler attacks and military operations intensify across the territory.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to the Palestinian-American town of Turmus Ayya on Saturday, Huckabee said the Israeli government had a responsibility to ensure the security of Palestinian communities.
“One of the messages that we have been sending and we will continue to send is that people in these communities have a right to live with a level of security and safety, and that the government has a responsibility to make sure that that happens,” he said.
His remarks came amid a sharp increase in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, where settler attacks have reached record levels and Israeli military operations have intensified.
Settler Attacks Surge
According to the Palestinian Authority’s Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission, Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians increased by 63% during the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period last year.
Among the most serious recent incidents was a raid in the village of al-Mughayyir near Ramallah in which two Palestinian teenagers were killed.
Huckabee also called for severe consequences against those responsible for extremist violence, signalling growing US concern over attacks on Palestinian civilians.
UN Warns Displacement
The violence comes alongside mounting international concern over the displacement of Palestinian communities.
A UN human rights report published on Friday warned that the forced displacement of residents from the Jenin, Nur Shams and Tulkarm refugee camps during Israeli military operations could amount to a crime against humanity.
More than 33,000 people have been displaced from the three camps, according to UN figures.
Rights groups have also documented the emptying of Palestinian villages and demolitions since the outbreak of the current conflict in October 2023.
Settlements Fuel Tensions
Israel’s settlement policies have added to concerns over the future of the occupied West Bank.
Amnesty International has raised concerns over Israeli military land-confiscation orders, including measures affecting parts of Area A, which under the Oslo Accords falls under Palestinian civil and security control.
International criticism has also intensified over Israel’s advancement of the E1 settlement plan, which includes more than 1,200 planned homes.
Critics say the project could divide the West Bank geographically and further isolate occupied East Jerusalem.
The developments have increased pressure on Israel as Washington faces growing calls to address settler violence and the deteriorating security situation for Palestinians across the West Bank.
