By Merve Aydogan
HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday "strongly" condemned an attack by illegal Israeli settlers on a mosque in the occupied West Bank.
"The Secretary-General strongly condemns the reported attack by Israeli settlers on a mosque in Deir Istiya in the occupied West Bank," said his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric at a news conference, adding that "such acts of violence and desecration of religious sites are unacceptable."
"Religious sites must be respected and protected at all times," Guterres said, condemning "all attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank."
"Such incidents are part of an increasing pattern of extremist violence that is inflaming tensions and must stop immediately," the spokesperson said.
Dujarric also noted that "Israel, as the occupying power, must protect the Palestinian civilian population and ensure that those responsible for attacks are held accountable."
Attacks by the Israeli army and illegal settlers have escalated in the occupied West Bank since the Gaza war in October 2023, killing more than 1,070 Palestinians and injuring 10,300 others, Palestinian figures showed.
In a landmark opinion last July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.