Middle East

Italy-France-Germany-Gb, condemnation of increase in settler violence

According to Al Jazeera, the Red Cross and Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, have resumed the search for the body of a hostage in the Zeitoun district of Gaza City

27 November 2025

Bambini scrivono su quaderni tra le macerie di edifici distrutti vicino a una tenda utilizzata come centro educativo di fortuna per gli studenti delle elementari a Jabalia, nel nord della Striscia di Gaza, l'8 settembre 2024, nel corso della guerra in corso nel territorio palestinese tra Israele e Hamas. Gli attacchi militari israeliani hanno ucciso molti palestinesi che si rifugiavano nelle scuole e Israele sostiene che i combattenti di Hamas si nascondono in queste strutture (Foto di Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

France, Germany, Italy and the UK strongly condemn the massive increase in settler violence against Palestinian civilians and call for stability in the West Bank.

"Destabilising activities risk jeopardising the success of the 20-Point Plan for Gaza and the prospects for long-term peace and security". This is stated in a note by the foreign ministers of the four countries, who call on the Government of Israel "to comply with its obligations under international law and to protect the Palestinian population of the occupied territories".

The document also points out that "after the official approval of the E1 settlement in August 2025, which would fragment the West Bank, more than 3,000 new housing projects have been approved in the last three weeks, totalling 28,000 units approved since the beginning of the year, an all-time high". And on this, the ministers say, "we call on the Government of Israel to reverse this policy". The four ministers "reaffirm their commitment to a just and comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the two-state solution, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and effective State of Palestine, living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition" and "reaffirm that there is no alternative to a negotiated two-state solution".

The E4 statement recalls that 'the number of attacks has reached new peaks: according to OCHA, 264 incidents were recorded in October, the highest number of attacks by settlers in a single month since the UN began monitoring such incidents in 2006'. It added that 'the condemnation of violence expressed by President Herzog, Prime Minister Netanyahu and other senior political and military figures must be translated into action. We therefore urge the Government of Israel to prosecute those responsible for these crimes and to prevent further violence by addressing the root causes of this phenomenon'.

The ministers "welcome President Trump's clear opposition to annexation and reiterate our opposition to any form of annexation - partial, total or de facto - and settlement policies that violate international law." Furthermore, 'the continued denial by the Government of Israel of tax revenues due to the Palestinian Authority is unjustifiable. The Government of Israel must release withheld tax revenues, extend the system of banking relations between Israeli and Palestinian banks, and allow for an increase in shekel transfers. These steps are essential for Palestinian citizens and for the Palestinian Authority's ability to provide public services. Weakening the Palestinian Authority undermines its ability to implement its reform agenda and take responsibility in Gaza, as required by UNSC Resolution 2803. A financial collapse of the Palestinian Authority would damage regional stability and Israel's own security'.

Shin Bet, foiled Hamas plan to introduce weapons into West Bank

Meanwhile, the Israeli security agency Shin Bet claimed to have foiled a plot by Hamas to smuggle weapons and money into the West Bank using Israeli citizens. This was reported by the Shin Bet itself in a statement where it explained that in recent weeks several Israelis from Kafr Qasim and Rahat were arrested by police on charges of involvement in "secret" transfers of weapons and funds into the West Bank on behalf of Ahmad Zarzur, an Israeli citizen living in Turkey and acting on behalf of Hamas.

The agency adds that its investigations uncovered a network that operated to smuggle weapons and hundreds of thousands of shekels in funds into the West Bank, 'with the fear that these could eventually reach terrorist agents to carry out attacks'.

Media, Hamas resumes search for Israeli hostage body

Meanwhile, the activities related to the observance of the truce agreement between Israel and Hamas do not stop. The Red Cross and the Al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas, have reportedly resumed the search for the body of a hostage in the Zeitoun district of Gaza City. Al Jazeera reports this. At this point, the bodies of two hostages, an Israeli and a Thai citizen, still remain in Gaza.

In Gaza, children go back to school

With the ceasefire, albeit fragile, between Israel and Hamas, Palestinian children and young people are returning to classes in Gaza. In fact, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) announced this week that it will reopen some schools in Gaza and children will gradually return to classes. Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said on X that more than 25,000 schoolchildren have already joined the agency's 'temporary learning spaces', while about 300,000 will attend classes online.

A Gaza i bambini palestinesi tornano a scuola, lezioni in un'aula improvvisata nel cortile

In the courtyard of the Al-Loulouah Al-Katami school in Gaza City, a makeshift classroom has been set up. It is an educational centre, there is a lack of teaching tools, resources, many make a long journey to get here, moving among the rubble and destroyed roads, but it is already something, explains Iman Al-Hinawi, director of the educational centre: "After two years of war, we have long longed for this moment, even the students and parents were enthusiastic. The smiles returned to the faces of our children, who had been absent for almost two years. They were divided into different classes, from kindergarten to the last grade of primary school". "I feel happy because I will learn and be more motivated. We suffered a lot during the war and when the schools closed, but now we will learn and I hope to become a doctor," says Layan, a student.

Media, Israel release 16-year-old American held 9 months in cell

The Israeli authorities have ordered the release from prison of Mohammed Ibrahim, a 16-year-old Palestinian-American who was detained for nine months on charges of throwing stones at settlers in the West Bank, Al Jazeera and the Guardian reported. The decision, taken by a court after a plea bargain, was made public by the boy's family, the British newspaper explains. "Words cannot describe the infinite relief we feel at this moment as a family," reads a statement quoted by both media outlets and attributed to a close friend of Ibrahim's loved ones, Zeyad Kadur. When he was still 15 years old, last February, the young Palestinian-American was arrested by Israeli soldiers in al-Mazraa ash-Sharqiya, near Ramallah. The boy was in the house his family owns in the West Bank, according to the media reports. His case had sparked an intense campaign in the US for his release, led in particular by pro-civil rights groups and Democratic congressmen. "We are now focused on the health care Mohammed needs after being subjected to abuse and inhuman conditions by Israel," the statement quoted by Kadur as saying.