Serious EU concern about number of Palestinians killed by Israelis in occupied West Bank

The EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah have expressed Europe’s deep concern about the death toll of Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as Israeli forces have resorted to using lethal force against unarmed civilians.

“We note that the Israeli authorities have launched investigations into each case and that Israel’s commander of operations in the West Bank has ordered an immediate review of the rules of engagement,” the EU statement said. “We reiterate the need for security forces, whether Israeli or Palestinian, to refrain from the use of lethal force, except in cases where there is a real and imminent threat to life.”

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The EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah also expressed concern about the “continuing incursions by Israeli forces” into the West Bank’s Area A: “Incursions by Israeli forces into Palestinian cities where the Palestinian Authority, under the Oslo Accords, assumes the powers and responsibilities for internal security and public order put in jeopardy the internationally recognised success of Palestinian institution building efforts.”