A coalition of UN human rights experts has issued a stark warning over Israel's relentless and escalating military actions in the occupied West Bank, branding them a "dangerous escalation" in the oppression of the Palestinian people.

The experts have implored the global community to act decisively to protect the rights, dignity, and very existence of Palestinians.

Expressing profound dismay at the surge of violence, particularly in Jenin, the experts condemned the Israeli forces for bombing civilian areas, demolishing essential infrastructure, and conducting invasive raids, which have only worsened the already volatile situation. "Israel's repression seems to have no end in sight," they stated, emphasizing the ongoing detentions and the tragic loss of at least 16 Palestinian lives in Jenin alone.

The experts highlighted that this aggressive campaign has been a hallmark of Israel's occupation strategy since October 7, 2023, systematically targeting Palestinian refugee camps and communities. They fiercely criticized statements by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who attempted to justify these military operations as responses to "Palestinian terrorism," which they described as a blatant misrepresentation to cover up state-sanctioned aggression.

The timing of this escalation is particularly noted, coinciding with the US decision to lift sanctions on Israeli settlers and Israel's move to reduce penalties for settler violence, essentially endorsing further violence against Palestinians with impunity.

The UN group demanded that Israel immediately cease its excessive use of force, show restraint, and withdraw its troops from the occupied territories as mandated by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling in July 2024, which declared the occupation illegal and called for the dismantling of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

They warned of the dire consequences of international inaction, likening the plight of Palestinians to that of other oppressed indigenous groups historically abandoned by the international community. "Like other indigenous peoples before them, the Palestinian people seem to have been abandoned to their fate. We cannot let this happen; it would be the greatest failure of the human rights system," they declared.

This urgent plea for action follows a week of intense military operations in Jenin, leading to the deaths of at least 16 Palestinians and injuring 50 others, amidst an already tense backdrop due to Israel's ongoing war on Gaza, which has resulted in over 47,300 deaths and 111,500 injuries since October 7, 2023. Despite a temporary ceasefire in Gaza on January 19, the violence in the West Bank continues unabated.

The Palestinian Health Ministry reports that since the renewed hostilities, at least 880 Palestinians have been killed and more than 6,700 injured by Israeli forces in the occupied territory.

The UN's call for justice and peace underscores the desperate need for international intervention to end the suffering and uphold the rights of Palestinians against what they describe as an illegal and oppressive occupation. (ILKHA)