A/HRC/40/42 IV. Impact of settler violence on human rights 24. Settler violence adversely affects Palestinian society, violating a range of rights, including the rights to security of person, freedom of movement, an adequate standard of living, work and education. 45 Furthermore, settlers often use violence as part of a calculated effort to expand Israeli control beyond the settlement jurisdiction areas. 46 Settler presence and violence have reduced Palestinians’ access to land, resulting in a de facto settlement expansion.47 Settler violence is also a factor of the coercive environment that may leave some Palestinians no other choice than to leave their places of residence. Such involuntary moves would increase the risk of forcible transfer, a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and a war crime. 48 A. Right to life, liberty and security of person 25. In the reporting period, 4 Palestinians were killed by settlers in the West Bank (2 in the context of alleged stabbing attacks) and 98 were injured. There were 176 incidents of property damage by settlers. At least 7,360 Palestinian-owned fruit trees were destroyed, marking a 22 per cent increase compared with the previous reporting period. The average number of incidents of settler violence per month rose in 2018, representing a 57 and 175 per cent increase compared with 2017 and 2016 respectively. Approximately 40 per cent of the recorded incidents in the West Bank took place in the Nablus area. Most of the physical attacks targeted farmers and herders and a number of attacks were in the presence of Israeli security forces, who did not uphold their obligations to protect the Palestinian population. 26. During the reporting period, there were 37 incidents of settlers entering and/or attacking Palestinian communities, accompanied by Israeli security forces and triggering clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces. These incidents resulted in 2 Palestinians killed and 446 injured. The majority of these clashes occurred in communities in the Nablus Governorate. The number of clashes with Israeli forces following settlers entering Palestinian communities increased significantly this year compared with previous years.49 27. Seven Israeli civilians were killed and 37 were injured by Palestinians in the West Bank, compared with 3 killed and 64 injured in the previous reporting period. 50 28. On 14 February 2018, some 15 Israeli civilians physically assaulted a 20-year-old Palestinian man near his house in the Old City in East Jerusalem, causing him serious injuries. According to the victim and video footage, the attack was in the presence of Israeli police who prevented other Palestinians from providing first aid to the victim. According to the victim’s lawyer and based on surveillance camera footage, the police arrested three Israeli suspects and opened an investigation. As at 31 October 2018, the lawyer of the victim had not been informed of any progress in the investigation. 29. Settler violence in the H2 area of Hebron was a growing concern in the reporting period, with 35 incidents of attacks injuring 24 Palestinians, including 10 children. This is a noticeable increase compared with 18 incidents and 14 injured Palestinians in the previous reporting period.51 For example on 29 July 2018, four settlers attacked a Palestinian man as he was walking in H2 with his wife and nephew, spraying him with pepper spray in the presence of the Israeli security forces. When the man picked up a stone to fend off the 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 A/68/513, paras. 12–14; A/71/355, para. 50; A/HRC/28/44, para. 40; A/HRC/34/38, para. 36; and A/HRC/37/43, para. 23. A/HRC/31/43, para. 33; and A/HRC/34/39, para. 18. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Three case studies of the humanitarian impact of de facto settlement expansion, 2016–2017, on file; and A/70/351, para. 58. Fourth Geneva Convention, art. 147; and Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, art. 8 (2) (b) (viii). Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Ibid. Ibid. 7