Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

UN Secretary-General Denounces Death of Palestinian-American in West Bank


(MENAFN) The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced the killing of a 19-year-old Palestinian-American citizen in the occupied West Bank, according to his spokesperson on Friday.

Guterres called for "a prompt, thorough and transparent" investigation into the incident and insisted that those responsible be held accountable, Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

The remarks followed an attack in the village of Mukhmas in which Nasrallah Abu Siyam was shot and beaten by Israeli settlers. "In the same attack, settlers shot and injured three other Palestinians. The secretary-general extends his heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim," Dujarric added.

Guterres urged Israel "to take concrete steps to halt and prevent all acts of violence by Israeli settlers against (the) Palestinian population” in line with its “obligations as the occupying power," Dujarric said.

He also provided broader context on the ongoing situation, noting that between February 3-16, Israeli forces killed three Palestinians, bringing the total in 2026 to nine, including two children.

"Overall, since January 2023, and as of 16 February, some 880 Palestinian families – that's over 4,700 people – have been displaced across the West Bank due to settler attacks and access restrictions," Dujarric added.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has seen increased Israeli military operations since the campaign in Gaza began on October 8, 2023. Palestinians regard the rising violence, arrests, displacement, and settlement expansion as moves toward formal annexation.

In a notable decision in July 2024, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal and called for the removal of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

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