International Committee Calls for Urgent Protection for Civilians

Julian Larusson, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Mission in Israel and the Occupied Territories, said: "There must be an end to the repeated and severe acts of violence."

He added: "The authorities have a responsibility to protect the population from acts of violence, including violence by settlers. The provisions of international humanitarian law regarding the protection of public and private property must be respected, and the population must have access to essential services"

The humanitarian impact of the violence - including the tragic loss of life and serious injuries - is enormous and devastating. Restrictions on movement prevent patients from accessing healthcare services and children from going to school, isolate people from their homes and livelihoods, and push entire families and communities into increasingly intolerable living conditions.

Ambulances are sometimes delayed for hours at checkpoints and roadblocks, or forced to take longer routes to avoid road closures and violence. This makes it more difficult for first responders to do their work and puts the lives of those they seek to help at risk.

While Israel has the right to take measures to ensure its security, as the occupying power in the West Bank, it also has a responsibility towards the Palestinians, who are protected persons under international humanitarian law. The occupying power has an obligation to treat protected persons humanely at all times, protect them from all acts of violence or threats thereof, and do its utmost to restore and maintain public order and civilian life.

Larusson said: "Upholding international humanitarian law and respecting the obligations under the law of occupation are necessary steps to restore the safety and dignity of the population; this means protecting civilians from violence and halting the expansion of civilian settlements"