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Italy and Canada have raised concerns about the treatment of their nationals who were beaten and robbed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Particulars Surrounding the Brutal Assault

Three Italians and a Canadian were attacked early on Sunday morning in the village of Ein al-Duyuk, near Jericho. They had volunteered to help protect the Palestinian population from intensifying settler violence.

“In the early morning of November 30th, 10 masked settlers, some armed with military-style rifles, forced their way into the residence where we were sleeping after night-watch,” said the Canadian national.

Each of the four required hospital treatment and one, an Italian man, was still receiving care in the city of Ramallah on Monday for more substantial injuries.

Escalating Violence in the Village

The frequency and severity of attacks in Ein al-Duyuk have risen dramatically over the past two months. This coincides with the establishment of a settler outpost nearby and the arrival of young and aggressive settlers.

Activists say that violent incidents have become an routine event. These incidents have involved settler mobs forcibly entering houses, assaulting residents, and taking sheep, vehicles, and destroying solar panels.

Legal Status and Official Responses

Although all Israeli communities on occupied territory are considered unlawful by the international community, irregular outposts are also against Israeli domestic statutes. The village is located within Area A of the West Bank, a zone theoretically under the control of the Palestinian Authority.

The Canadian foreign ministry stated it “strongly condemns the acts of violence committed by extremist settlers and is against any measures or talk about absorbing Palestinian land.”

The Italian foreign minister, Minister Tajani, told reporters: “We cannot tolerate of this hostility. This is not the way for the settlers to make their claims.”

Absence of Protection and Wider Situation

Residents and advocates report there has been little effective action by security forces to stop the attacks or dismantle the outpost. Leading members of the current Israeli government are vocal backers of West Bank settlers.

United Nations data indicates that settlers and Israeli forces have taken the lives of over a thousand Palestinians, including hundreds of minors, in the West Bank over the past two years.

Voice of the Volunteers

The injured Canadian added that, notwithstanding the violence, she felt the presence of volunteers in Ein al-Duyuk had been valuable.

“The villagers stood taller while we were present,” she said. “Kids were able to play outside. Families could sleep soundly. That alone made our presence justified.”

A Palestinian activist involved with groups that recruit foreign volunteers said the recent encampment has brought in far-right wing settlers who appear to be part of a coordinated network.