US, EU officials condemn Israeli settler violence, demand accountability

On Tuesday, the EU condemned the killing of two Israelis near Hawara on Sunday and the killing of an American-Israeli citizen on Monday, naming them "terror attacks." 

The statement also condemned "settlers violence", which resulted in the killing of one Palestinian and the "unacceptable destruction" of Palestinian property in Hawara by rampaging Israeli settlers late Sunday evening. 

In an earlier statement, the EU called on authorities on all sides to intervene and "protect civilians" to prevent further loss of life.  

2/2 Authorities on all sides must intervene now to stop this endless cycle of violence and protect civilians in order to prevent further casualties.

— EU and Palestinians (@EUpalestinians) February 26, 2023

Since Sunday evening, Israeli settlers in mass numbers attacked the Palestinian town of Hawara, and other towns in the occupied West Bank, torching cars, shops and homes and causing widespread damage. The attack on Hawara lasted for several hours with little or no intervention by the Israeli army. 

Residents said the settlers carried out their attacks "under the protection of the army."

Similarly, the US Office of Palestinian Affairs denounced settlers' attacks against Hawara as "heinous" and demanded accountability and legal prosecution against the perpetrators. 

Hady Amr, the US special representative to the Palestinian Authority, visited the town of Hawara on Tuesday to survey the damage. 

Special Rep. Hady Amr visited with the victims of Sunday's Huwara attack. He expressed his deepest condolences and condemned the unacceptable widescale, indiscriminate violence by settlers. Extremely concerned by recent escalating violence in the West Bank. pic.twitter.com/TjYERLBDS7

— U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (@USPalAffairs) February 28, 2023

One activist described the settlers' attacks as "Kristallnacht" - the attack against German Jewish communities by the Nazi Party in 1938. 

Kristallnacht in Palestine tonight

— Gershon Baskin🟣 جرشون باسكين (@gershonbaskin) February 26, 2023

Also on Tuesday, the Israeli police demolished two homes in occupied East Jerusalem. 

At least sixty-three Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of the year. Thirteen Israelis have been killed in the same period.