The United Kingdom has strongly condemned rising violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, describing recent attacks on Palestinian villages and communities as “horrific.” Sarah MacIntosh, the UK’s permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks at a UN Security Council meeting on Palestine. She said Israeli forces had also been involved in some of the attacks.

MacIntosh said the incidents were not isolated. In July alone, 13 Palestinians and two Israelis were killed, she said. Citing a July report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, she said more than 1,300 settler-related violent incidents were documented during the month, affecting more than 250 Palestinian communities.

So far this year, about 900 Palestinians have been injured and more than 3,200 people displaced, MacIntosh said. During the same period, at least three Israelis were killed and 24 injured. She said children were among those most affected, facing violence, displacement, movement restrictions and disruption from military operations. MacIntosh said perpetrators had long enjoyed impunity and urged Israel’s government to protect Palestinians in the occupied territory and bring offenders to justice.