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The governments of Italy and Canada have expressed alarm about the treatment of their citizens who were beaten and robbed by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Details of the Brutal Assault

Three Italians and a Canadian were assaulted in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday in the village of Ein al-Duyuk, near Jericho. They had volunteered to help protect the Palestinian population from intensifying settler violence.

“At 4.30am on 30 November, a group of ten masked settlers, some armed with military-style rifles, forced their way into the residence where we were sleeping after night-watch,” stated the Canadian volunteer.

All four were hospitalised and one, an male Italian volunteer, was still receiving care in the city of Ramallah on Monday for more substantial injuries.

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 coincides with the establishment of a settler outpost nearby and the influx of new, confrontational settlers.

Local observers report that aggressive acts have become an almost daily occurrence. Attacks have included groups of settlers breaking into homes, beating villagers, and stealing livestock and property.

Legal Status and Government Reactions

Although all Israeli communities on land seized in 1967 are considered unlawful by the international community, irregular outposts are also illegal under Israeli law. The village is located within Area A of the West Bank, a zone meant to be administered of the Palestinian governing body.

The Canadian foreign ministry stated it “utterly rejects the violent acts committed by radical settlers and is against any measures or talk about absorbing Palestinian land.”

The Italian foreign minister, Minister Tajani, told reporters: “We have had enough of this aggression. This is not the way for the settlers to make their claims.”

Absence of Protection and Broader Context

Villagers and activists report there has been little effective action by security forces to stop the attacks or remove the illegal settlement. Senior figures of the Israeli governing coalition actively support 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.

Perspective from the Ground

The Canadian volunteer noted that, despite the attack, she felt the presence of volunteers in Ein al-Duyuk had been meaningful.

“The residents felt more confident while we were present,” she said. “Kids were able to play outside. Families could sleep soundly. Just that made our presence worthwhile.”

A Palestinian activist working with groups that recruit foreign volunteers said the new outpost has brought in ideologically driven settlers who appear to be part of a coordinated network.