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The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has strongly condemned the killing of members of a Palestinian family by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, describing the incident as part of a worsening security situation affecting Palestinian civilians.
Speaking at a press briefing, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the Secretary-General denounced the deaths of the family members, including children, and urged Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law. He emphasized that security forces must exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when strictly unavoidable to protect life.
According to the UN statement, the incident reflects a serious deterioration in security conditions across the occupied West Bank, where violence continues to affect Palestinian communities. Dujarric also highlighted the increasing severity of attacks by illegal Israeli settlers, describing the rising violence as unacceptable and calling for immediate steps to halt it.
The UN chief urged the Israeli government to take concrete measures to reduce tensions and ensure protection for Palestinian civilians. He also stressed the need for credible investigations into such incidents and accountability for those responsible.
Reports said Israeli forces opened fire on a Palestinian family traveling in a vehicle, killing a husband, wife, and their two children aged five and seven, while two other children were injured but survived.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza War in October 2023, violence in the West Bank has intensified, with Palestinian sources reporting more than 1,100 deaths and thousands injured.