Four international volunteers, including three Italians and a Canadian, were brutally beaten and robbed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of Ein al-Duyuk on Sunday morning.
According to eyewitness accounts, 10 masked settlers burst into the home where the volunteers were sleeping after night-watch, beating them for about 15 minutes. The attackers shouted insults at them, claiming they had no right to be there, and smashed the interior of the house before leaving. One of the Italians was hospitalized in Ramallah on Monday with more substantial injuries.
The Canadian volunteer described the scene as "a really organized way" in which settlers attacked them, adding that this is not about her or other international volunteers, but rather a symptom of a broader problem. Palestinians living in Ein al-Duyuk endure violence every day, she noted, and the situation has worsened over the past two months since a settler outpost was established nearby.
In recent weeks, attacks have become almost daily occurrences, with settler mobs breaking into homes, stealing property, and destroying solar panels. Activists say that Israeli authorities have failed to intervene effectively, despite leading members of Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition actively supporting West Bank settlers.
The Israeli government has yet to comment on the incident. However, Canada and Italy have expressed strong condemnation for the violent acts committed by extremist settlers. The situation remains dire, with UN figures showing over 1,000 Palestinians, including 233 children, killed in the West Bank over the past two years.
International volunteers play a crucial role in protecting Palestinian villages like Ein al-Duyuk, as evidenced by the Canadian volunteer's account of how the presence of foreign volunteers made a tangible difference to the community. Despite the violence and intimidation, many international volunteers remain committed to supporting Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.
According to eyewitness accounts, 10 masked settlers burst into the home where the volunteers were sleeping after night-watch, beating them for about 15 minutes. The attackers shouted insults at them, claiming they had no right to be there, and smashed the interior of the house before leaving. One of the Italians was hospitalized in Ramallah on Monday with more substantial injuries.
The Canadian volunteer described the scene as "a really organized way" in which settlers attacked them, adding that this is not about her or other international volunteers, but rather a symptom of a broader problem. Palestinians living in Ein al-Duyuk endure violence every day, she noted, and the situation has worsened over the past two months since a settler outpost was established nearby.
In recent weeks, attacks have become almost daily occurrences, with settler mobs breaking into homes, stealing property, and destroying solar panels. Activists say that Israeli authorities have failed to intervene effectively, despite leading members of Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition actively supporting West Bank settlers.
The Israeli government has yet to comment on the incident. However, Canada and Italy have expressed strong condemnation for the violent acts committed by extremist settlers. The situation remains dire, with UN figures showing over 1,000 Palestinians, including 233 children, killed in the West Bank over the past two years.
International volunteers play a crucial role in protecting Palestinian villages like Ein al-Duyuk, as evidenced by the Canadian volunteer's account of how the presence of foreign volunteers made a tangible difference to the community. Despite the violence and intimidation, many international volunteers remain committed to supporting Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.
this is so disturbing what's going on in Israel I feel like we're witnessing a huge human rights crisis 
and it's not just about international volunteers getting attacked, it's about the entire Palestinian community who are living in constant fear 
. It's crazy that Canada and Italy have already condemned the violence and I hope the Israeli government takes action to stop this kind of thing happening again 
. The fact that settlers feel like they can just attack anyone without consequences is just heartbreaking 
. We need more voices speaking out against this occupation and supporting the Palestinian people 
.
The way those settlers just showed up at that house like it was their own property is absolutely horrific! Can you even believe that's what's been happening in Ein al-Duyuk for years now? It's not just the volunteers who were attacked, it's the entire community that lives in fear every day 
.
. It's always the same old story - a settler outpost gets built, tensions rise, and then things escalate into violence 
. It's like we're stuck in some kind of never-ending nightmare that we can't wake up from 
.
. They put their lives on hold for a cause they believe in and it's not even appreciated by most people 
. And yeah, Canada and Italy have spoken out but we need more than just lip service from world leaders 
. We need action 
this is getting out of hand 
the world needs to step in and do something about these settlers, it's like they think they're above the law or something 
and what really gets me is that the Israelis are more concerned with protecting their own interests than with keeping the peace 
international volunteers are just trying to help out and make a difference 
but all anyone cares about is the settlers' actions, it's like they're the only ones who matter 
. And now international volunteers are getting caught in the middle, risking their lives just by trying to help out. It's heartbreaking to hear that Palestinian villages like Ein al-Duyuk are living with this kind of violence all the time.
. They're doing something positive, despite the risks, and it's not okay that they have to deal with this level of intimidation. Maybe if more people knew about what was going on in the West Bank, there would be more pressure on Israel to do something about it 
.