In a strong statement issued on Wednesday, United States President Joe Biden called for an immediate end to escalating attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The settler violence has intensified in recent weeks following the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7 and Israel's ongoing bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip.

According to Palestinian authorities, some Palestinians have lost their lives due to these attacks. Rights groups have reported that settlers have also targeted small Bedouin communities, forcing them to evacuate their homes and move to other areas. The West Bank Protection Consortium, a coalition of NGOs and donor countries, including the European Union, has stated that hundreds of Palestinians have been forcibly displaced as a result of settler attacks.

Biden, highlighting the urgency of the situation, emphasized the need for accountability for these attacks by "extremist settlers". "It has to stop. They have to be held accountable. It has to stop now," the US President insisted. Settler attacks had already been increasing steadily for months before the recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas.

Since the October 7 attack, Israel has imposed a "complete siege" on Gaza and launched a relentless bombardment, resulting in a high death toll, according to Palestinian authorities. In Gaza, at least 6,546 people have been killed and more than 17,439 wounded, as per their accounts. Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, tensions have been soaring due to increased Israeli military raids and mass arrests, coupled with attacks by settlers, which have forced some Palestinian communities off their land.

Biden, however, did not outline any specific measures that the United States would take to pressure Israel to curb these settler attacks, some of which have occurred in the presence of Israeli soldiers. The US President also expressed doubts about the accuracy of the death toll reported by Hamas authorities in Gaza, stating that innocent lives being lost is "the price of waging a war."

Critics, including Khaled Elgindy from the Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institute, argue that Biden's comments indicate a lack of empathy towards Palestinians. Highlighting this sentiment in a social media post, Elgindy stated, "Today he confirmed it," referring to Biden's inability to empathize with Palestinians.

Regarding the expected ground invasion into Gaza and the release of hostages, Biden revealed that he has not demanded assurances from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Rather, he suggested that Netanyahu should prioritize the safe release of hostages. Netanyahu, on the other hand, declared that the decision on when Israeli forces would enter Gaza would be determined by the government's special war cabinet, without providing further details.

As tensions continue to rise in the region, with both Israeli forces and Hamas vowing to intensify their actions, the international community remains hopeful for a swift de-escalation and for an end to the settler attacks that have further fueled the conflict.