The United Nations Security Council held an open debate on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, focusing on the escalating violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. The discussion comes amid continuing attacks on Palestinians and their property across the region.

The West Bank, home to approximately 3.4 million Palestinians, remains under Israeli occupation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that all Israeli settlements in the area lack legal validity and represent a “flagrant violation” of international law.

According to reports from the UN relief agency OCHA, between the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023, and July 24, 2026, 1,122 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank, including 76 fatalities in 2026 alone. Recent updates from OCHA also indicate that between July 28 and August 3, Israeli forces or settlers injured at least 37 Palestinians, with 35 settler attacks documented.

The UN’s human rights office noted last month that violence has reached an “all-time high” as new settlements are approved. It also stated that settlers and Israeli security forces have “often” acted together in attacks on local Palestinian communities. These attacks have particularly affected Palestinian populations in the Ramallah, Nablus, and Jerusalem governorates.

The Security Council debate aims to address these ongoing issues and the broader implications for peace and security in the region.

Sources