Palestinian Family Grieves as Violence Escalates in West Bank Amid Ongoing Conflict

A Palestinian family is mourning the loss of Bilal Saleh, a 40-year-old street vendor and farmer who was reportedly shot and killed by an Israeli settler while harvesting olives on his family's land in Al-Sawiya. His mother-in-law expressed frustration over the lack of investigation into his death, suggesting that Israeli authorities are exploiting the ongoing Gaza conflict to intensify their efforts to "colonize" Palestinian territories. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have refrained from commenting on the allegations, stating that the investigation into Saleh's death falls under the jurisdiction of the Israeli police. In the wake of Hamas' attack on October 7, which resulted in significant casualties in Israel, the IDF spokesperson attributed the rise in violence in the West Bank to Hamas, despite reports indicating a surge in attacks by Jewish settlers against Palestinians. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 1,000 attacks by settlers have occurred since the escalation of violence, with 553 Palestinians killed in the West Bank over the past ten months. The U.N. has labeled 2023 as the deadliest year for Palestinians in the territory since 2008, with a significant number of children among the casualties. Local leaders have criticized the Israeli military for enabling settler violence, claiming that the army prioritizes the protection of settlers over the safety of Palestinians. This ongoing tension highlights the complex and volatile situation in the West Bank, where both sides remain entrenched in their positions.