The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, has assured the United Nations Security Council on Friday that the West Bank and Gaza are caught in «a deadly spiral of violence that is increasingly difficult to contain».
«I am appalled that children continue to be victims of violence. Children must never be subjected to violence or put in harm’s way,» he said, adding that «the perpetrators of all acts of violence must be held accountable.»
Wennesland also explained «that (Israeli) security forces must exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when strictly unavoidable to protect life,» while stressing that «the immediate priority» is to work «to calm the situation.»
«This will require decisive action by both sides, with the support of the international community,» he said, adding that «urgent efforts are needed to empower as well as strengthen the Palestinian Authority and move towards a return to a political process.»
According to the tally, during the investigation period, at least 32 Palestinians, including six minors, have been killed in clashes with Israeli security forces or in search and arrest operations, as well as in other incidents.
The number of injured has risen to 311, including one woman and eight children, while at least 106 attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians have been recorded, resulting in 63 injuries or damage to their property.
On the Israeli side, two army servicemen have been killed, while 25 civilians have been injured, including five women and three children. In addition, at least 13 military members of the security forces have been injured in Palestinian attacks by shooting, ramming, stones, Molotov cocktails or other means.
Wennesland noted that, in total, 115 attacks on Israeli civilians have been recorded, 100 of which were stone-throwing incidents, resulting in injuries or damage to Israeli property.
«Tensions were particularly high around Nablus, where settlers obstructed the main routes of Palestinian residents and, on several occasions, entered the Palestinian town of Huwwara, damaging Palestinian property and provoking clashes with residents, in some cases in the presence of Israeli security forces,» he stressed.
Finally, Wennesland pointed out that Israeli authorities have demolished, confiscated or forced owners to demolish 38 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C and three in East Jerusalem, displacing at least 81 Palestinians.
«I call on the Israeli authorities to stop the displacement and eviction of Palestinians and to approve additional plans that will allow Palestinians to build legally and address their development needs,» he concluded.
