United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was deeply troubled by the continued violence and loss of life in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, stressing that Israel, the Occupying Power, must ensure that Palestinian civilians are protected against all acts of violence by settlers.

“The Secretary-General condemns all acts of violence against civilians,” said Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, making reference to acts of vandalism and torching of land and properties -- including a school, by Israeli settlers in Palestinian villages around Nablus and Ramallah.

“Israel, as the Occupying Power, must ensure that the civilian population is protected against all acts of violence, and that perpetrators are held to account. Israel must abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law, including the proportional use of force and the taking of all feasible precautions to spare civilians in the conduct of military operations,” he said.

“Ultimately, only a return to a meaningful political process and ending the occupation will bring an end to this devastating cycle of violence and senseless loss of life,” stressed the spokesperson.