The Palestinian community in Chile has condemned escalating attacks by Israeli forces and settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, calling on the Chilean government and the international community to take action to protect civilians and halt the violence.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the community said military operations, the killing of civilians, attacks by Israeli settlers, assaults on Christian communities, the burning of mosques and churches, and the demolition of homes indicate what it described as a new phase in Israeli occupation and settlement policies.
The statement argued that developments in the West Bank are not isolated incidents but form part of “a systematic strategy” aimed at consolidating the de facto annexation of Palestinian land through forced displacement, settlement expansion, and violence.
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The community said these actions violate international law and rulings of the International Court of Justice, warning that they risk undermining the prospects for a viable Palestinian state.
It added that the escalation in the West Bank has coincided with the ongoing war in Gaza and explained that Israel is seeking to expand its control over the territory through what it described as a policy of creating facts on the ground.
The Palestinian community in Chile said many of its members have close family ties to communities in the West Bank and therefore could not remain silent in the face of the ongoing violence.
The group called on the Chilean government to take a more active role in international forums, work to protect Palestinian civilians, press for an end to settlement expansion, and support efforts to ensure accountability for alleged violations of international law and human rights.
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