The pace of settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank has escalated to the point where their consequences are becoming increasingly difficult to contain. The recent incident in the village of Tell was one such example. Last Friday, a settler attack on the village resulted in the killing of four Palestinians and the death of two Israelis after a Palestinian seized the weapon of a settler who had been pointing it at the villagers. The incident occurred amid a wave of escalation by settlers that began only a few weeks ago and has spread across most parts of the West Bank. It has resulted in deaths and injuries, among them children, as well as attacks on homes, mosques and agricultural land through vandalism, arson and destruction. One Israeli analyst described the situation as the West Bank approaching an “imminent catastrophe”, amid mounting provocations on the ground and the emergence of local self-defence committees in Palestinian villages.

According to video footage and eyewitness accounts, the Israeli occupation army does not merely stand by while these armed attacks against unarmed Palestinian civilians take place. It also intervenes in support of the settlers whenever necessary to protect them, as demonstrated by the attack on civilians in the village of Tell and its aftermath.

According to video footage and eyewitness accounts, the Israeli occupation army does not merely stand by while these armed attacks against unarmed Palestinian civilians take place. It also intervenes in support of the settlers whenever necessary to protect them, as demonstrated by the attack on civilians in the village of Tell and its aftermath.

Nahum Barnea, political commentator for Yedioth Ahronoth, holds the Israeli government responsible for encouraging settlement expansion, protecting illegal outposts, and providing political cover for extremist settlers. The situation in the West Bank is further compounded by increasingly stringent restrictions on movement across the territory, further disrupting the already difficult daily lives of Palestinians as a result of the occupation army’s measures on the roads. The Israeli government has also deployed two additional military battalions to take part in operations in the West Bank, in addition to the 24 battalions already operating there. Alongside this, many other measures and practices have been implemented by the occupation with increasing intensity. Is the Israeli government preparing for a further escalation in the West Bank?

READ: Disarming settlers barely scratches the surface of Israel’s colonial violence

In the aftermath of the Tell incident and its subsequent developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a large-scale military operation in the West Bank, while simultaneously pledging to accelerate settlement activities. This came just three months before the Israeli elections scheduled for October. The timing of the escalation in the West Bank raises a........

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