Why 2023 is already the deadliest year on record for Palestinians in the West Bank | DW News

As the world’s attention is set on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, violence has been escalating in the occupied West Bank, with Israeli forces carrying out raids – and a spike in settler attacks against Palestinians. Even before the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas militants, existing tensions meant 2023 was already set to be the deadliest year on record for Palestinians in the West Bank. Since the attack, things have escalated sharply. Israeli forces have been conducting a widespread security crackdown, bolstering forces in the area and carrying out raids and operations across the West Bank. So far, they say they’ve arrested at least 800 people – 500 of whom, they say, are affiliated with Hamas. They’ve also carried out two airstrikes in the last week, on what they say were Hamas and other militant group targets. Israeli settler violence is on the rise too. That means Israelis who live in settlements inside the occupied territory, considered illegal under international law, are carrying out attacks on the Palestinians there, entering villages, where they are expelling and even killing Palestinian civilians. According to UN figures, attacks have more than doubled since the Hamas terror attacks, with settlers vowing revenge.