France's foreign ministry denounces settler attacks in West Bank, calls for protection of Palestinians

France's foreign ministry has condemned the uptick in settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

"France calls on the Israeli authorities to take immediate measures to protect the Palestinian population," the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

Two Palestinians succumbed to their wounds today after being shot by settlers in the West Bank, and over 100 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied territory since the start of the war on 7 October.

At least 30 rights organisations in Israel also issued a statement on Sunday, calling on the international community to "stop the state-backed wave of settler violence" taking place in the occupied West Bank.

According to the statement, Israeli settlers have been "exploiting the lack of public attention to the West Bank, as well as the general atmosphere of rage against Palestinians, to escalate their campaign of violent attacks in an attempt to forcibly transfer Palestinian communities".

The rights organisations say that at least 13 herding communities have been displaced since the start of the war on 7 October, while many more are in danger.