Albanese Calls Israeli Attacks in West Bank “Systematic Killing,” MSF and EU Express Concern

WEST BANK: UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, has described Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank as “systematic killing,” calling for an immediate arms embargo and the suspension of all trade ties with Israel.
Writing on X on Saturday, Albanese said: “Gaza is on fire, and in the West Bank a massacre of unarmed civilians is underway.” She accused Israeli citizens (illegal settlers) and the military of acting “in unison” in these attacks, saying responsibility could not be confined to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or “a few bad apples” alone. She demanded an “immediate arms embargo, halt all trade,” adding that such measures were required under international law.
The latest violence in the West Bank followed a shooting near the illegal Israeli settlement of Havat Gilad, in which two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others wounded. In response, Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Katz ordered a “large-scale military operation” in Palestinian villages across the West Bank on Friday. Israeli settlers subsequently attacked several Palestinian communities in Nablus governorate, setting homes and property on fire. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 4 Palestinians were killed in an attack by settlers and Israeli forces on the town of Tell, southwest of Nablus.
EU Voices “Grave Concern” Over Rising West Bank Tensions
The European Union on Friday expressed “grave concern” over the violence in the West Bank, offering condolences to the families of those killed and calling for de-escalation. An EU spokesperson said, “Today’s events are a reminder of how fragile the situation on the ground is,” urging all parties to refrain from inflammatory language, help ease tensions, and end the “brutal cycle of violence.”
MSF “Deeply Concerned” Over Raid on Nablus Hospital
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) expressed “deep concern” over reports that Israeli forces stormed the Nablus Specialized Hospital during the violence. Philippe Ribeiro, head of MSF’s mission in Palestine, said: “We are deeply concerned by reports coming out of Nablus today, where Israeli forces raided the Nablus Specialized Hospital alongside clashes at other locations across the governorate, which left 4 Palestinians and 2 Israeli soldiers dead.” He described the violence as “part of a broader pattern of Israeli raids, state-backed settler violence, disruption of basic services, and mounting pressure on civilians and medical care,” adding: “Targeting hospitals, ambulances, staff, and patients anywhere in Palestine is unacceptable.”