A delegation of the European Union along with representatives of about 20 countries visited today the Palestinian town of Huwara, south of Nablus, and the neighboring village of Za’tara to express their solidarity with their residents in the aftermath of the terrorist rampage by Israeli settlers last week.

The delegation also paid a solidarity visit to the family of Sameh Aqtash, a Palestinian humanitarian worker who was shot dead by settlers during the terrorist rampage last week on the neighboring village of Za’tara.

In Huwara, diplomats were briefed by the community about the extreme violence unleashed on Sunday by hundreds of Israeli settlers who attacked the village and the nearby communities of Za’tara, Beita and Burin, resulting in the killing of one Palestinian and injuring at least 409 others, including 90 children and 136 women.

Burgsdorff condemned settler attacks on towns and villages south of Nablus, saying: “We have made extensive contacts to stop what is happening on the ground, and unfortunately this intervention was late”. He said nevertheless, efforts are being made to stop these attacks against the Palestinian people.

The EU representative demanded compensation for the Palestinian victims who were affected by the terrorist rampage, noting that the visit is a message of solidarity from the international community with the people of Huwara and neighboring villages.

The representatives condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and violent acts committed by settlers, calling on Israel, as the occupying power, to take all necessary measures to protect Palestinians from settler terrorism and to ensure that perpetrators are held to account.

Meantime, the Executive Director of Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, Hagai El-Ad, who accompanied the delegation, said that the settlers’ attacks are being carried out under the auspices of the Israeli government, as the government gives them immunity to continue these attacks in Huwara and elsewhere across the occupied territories.

In conjunction with the delegation’s visit, extremist Knesset member Zvi Sukkot stormed the town and tried to interrupt the delegation through a loudspeaker.

Source: “Palestinian News & Info Agency