The U.N. human rights office called on Israeli security forces to immediately end their active participation in and support for attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
The statement Tuesday follows a wave of settler attacks on Palestinian towns and villages in the West Bank triggered by the killing of a 14-year-old Israeli boy in what authorities say was a militant attack.
The Palestinian Health Ministry says seven Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers since the attacks began Friday, and another 75 have been wounded. Israeli authorities have urged people not to resort to vigilante attacks as tensions soar. But rights groups have long accused Israeli forces of routinely ignoring settler attacks or even taking part in them.
Tensions in the region have increased since the start of the latest Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, when Hamas and Islamic Jihad, two militant groups backed by Iran, carried out a cross-border attack that killed 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 250 others. Israel responded with an offensive in Gaza that has caused widespread devastation and killed over 33,800 people, according to local health officials.
World leaders have urged Israel not to retaliate after Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles over the weekend in an unprecedented mission that pushed the Middle East closer to a regionwide war. The attack happened less than two weeks after a suspected Israeli strike in Syria killed two Iranian generals in an Iranian consular building.
Currently:
— Iran’s direct attack on Israel upended decades of shadow warfare.
— US Treasury Secretary Yellen says Iran’s actions could cause global ‘economic spillovers’ and warns of more sanctions.
— Citing safety, University of Southern California cancels speech by valedictorian who has publicly supported Palestinians
— Artist and curators refuses to open Israeli pavilion at Venice Biennale until cease-fire, hostage deal.
— US House speaker pushes toward a vote on aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.
Here is the latest:
ROME — Italy’s defense minister says Iran “crossed a precise red line” with its direct attack on Israel, but is calling on Israel to avoid fueling a spiral of violence in the region.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto spoke by telephone Tuesday with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. He expressed Italy’s continued friendship with Israel, according to a ministry statement.
According to the statement, Crosetto told Gallant “the crossing of a precise red line with the direct attack on Israel, on its territory, is worrying but it is precisely now that we need to be mature and act according to the rules of international law to avoid fuelling the spiral of violence that would see us all defeated.”
The message urging restraint is expected to be delivered this week as Italy, the current president of the Group of Seven countries, hosts G7 foreign ministers for a meeting in Capri starting Wednesday.
Italy has provided significant aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, first with a hospital ship anchored off the territory. Later, three humanitarian flights transported Palestinian children to Italian paediatric hospitals.
ISRAELI MILITARY DISPLAYS IRANIAN MISSILE
JULIS MILITARY BASE, Israel — The Israeli military has displayed one of the Iranian ballistic missiles that was intercepted over the weekend.
Israel says Iran launched over 300 missiles and attack drones in the barrage. Iran said the attack was a response to an alleged Israeli airstrike that killed two Iranian generals in Syria on April 1.
Israel says that 99% of the incoming fire was intercepted, either by Israel’s air defense systems or by an international coalition that included Israel, British, French and Jordanian pilots.
Showing reporters the remnants of one of the missiles at an army base in southern Israel on Tuesday, military spokesman Rear Adm….
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