Diplomats from 13 European countries and Canada have condemned what they described as growing "settler terror" against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, after a surge in deadly attacks.
In a joint statement, diplomatic missions including France, Spain and Britain said they were "appalled" by the recent killings.
"We strongly condemn increasing settler terror and violence by the Israeli security forces inflicted upon Palestinian communities," the diplomats said.
"This violence by settler militias, aimed at taking over land and creating a coercive environment, forcing Palestinians to leave their homes, must end."
The statement called on the Israeli authorities to "prevent and prosecute the lethal violence, raids and attacks".
Since the start of March, six Palestinians have been shot dead in settler attacks in the West Bank, according to a tally of data from the Ramallah-based health ministry.
'Morally and ethically unacceptable'
On Wednesday, Israel's military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir described the rise in settler violence in the West Bank as "morally and ethically unacceptable".
US broadcaster CNN recently reported the case of Palestinian Abu al-Kebash who claimed to have been sexually assaulted by settlers in his village of Khirbet Humsa, describing sexual assault as "a new weapon in these settlers’ arsenal of intimidation".
More than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements and outposts in the West Bank, which are illegal under international law, alongside roughly three million Palestinians.
On Tuesday, the UN urged Israel to immediately halt its dramatic settlement expansion in the West Bank, where it has raised concerns of "ethnic cleansing" with more than 36,000 Palestinians displaced in a single year.
Deadly Israeli settler violence surges in West Bank during Iran war
Sharp rise in violence
Violence in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has risen sharply since the 7 October, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza.
According to the Palestinian Authority, Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 1,050 Palestinians – many of them militants, but also scores of civilians – in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war.
Attacks have further spiked since the start of Iran war on 28 February.
'Not our war': Palestinians mourn first dead after Iran missile fire
Israeli troops last week shot dead two children and their parents in a car, Palestinian authorities said. The Israeli military and police said soldiers opened fire on the vehicle over a perceived safety threat.
Official Israeli figures say 45 Israelis, including soldiers and civilians, have also been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations.
(with newswires)
