Israel’s escalating Jewish settler violence in the West Bank brings European backlash

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

Israel is facing growing international criticism as its policies in Gaza and the occupied West Bank increasingly become subjects of political confrontation across Europe. From France and Britain to Germany and the Netherlands, political leaders, civil society organizations, and demonstrators are demanding stronger action against Israeli military operations, Jewish settlement expansion, and violations of Palestinian rights.

At the same time, developments on the ground reveal an increasingly systematic effort to consolidate Israeli control over Palestinian territory through agricultural outposts, industrial zones, military operations, and settler violence. The situation raises a fundamental question: Can international political pressure prevent further territorial expansion, or will Israel continue creating irreversible facts on the ground?

France: Mélenchon promises naval protection for Gaza flotillas

French presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon has pledged that French naval vessels could accompany international solidarity flotillas heading toward Gaza if necessary, should he win the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking at a rally in Bourges, the leader of France Unbowed (La France Insoumise) described the situation in Gaza as genocide and promised immediate action to support Palestinians confronting the destruction in Gaza and the gradual annexation of the occupied West Bank.

He said French vessels could accompany solidarity missions, following the example of Italy and Spain, to protect citizens participating in efforts to defend Palestinian rights.

Mélenchon also rejected the annexation of the West Bank, southern Lebanon, and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

His statements represent a significant political position ahead of France’s presidential elections, scheduled for April 18 and May 2, 2027.

The West Bank: A new strategy of territorial expansion

While international attention remains focused on Gaza, Israel’s settlement expansion in the West Bank is taking increasingly sophisticated forms.

According to the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, Israeli authorities have designated more than 4,000 dunams of land in the Tubas Governorate as grazing areas, potentially opening the door to additional Jewish settlement outposts and restricting Palestinian access.

These measures demonstrate how Israeli administrative decisions and agricultural activities can gradually transform the geographical realities of the occupied territory without requiring the immediate construction of large settlements.

Smotrich’s industrial plan: Exploiting Palestinian labor

Another dimension of the expansion is the development of Israeli industrial zones in the occupied West Bank.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has promoted a plan to increase their number to 35, compared with approximately 20 currently operating in the territory.

One example is an industrial area near the Palestinian village of Nabi Saleh, associated with the nearby settlement of Halamish, where local residents have observed a growing number of factories.

More controversially, Smotrich has highlighted the economic advantages of employing Palestinian workers at substantially lower wages.

According to figures cited in his statements, Palestinian workers could receive approximately $600 per month, compared with more than $2,000 under wage levels applicable inside Israel.

This wage difference would provide factories with lower production costs and a potential competitive advantage in international markets.

The proposal raises serious questions about economic exploitation within an occupied territory. It also reflects Smotrich’s broader political vision, which has outlined emigration, employment without equal political rights under Israeli sovereignty, or violent consequences for resistance as possible outcomes for Palestinians.

The expansion of industrial zones therefore represents more than economic development. It risks creating an economic system that reinforces territorial control while exploiting Palestinian labor.

Settler violence and military operations intensify

The situation is further complicated by continuing attacks against Palestinian communities.

On Tuesday evening, dozens of Israeli settlers attacked a vehicle repair workshop in Lubban al-Sharqiya, south of Nablus, setting fire to dozens of Palestinian vehicles. Several residents suffered injuries and smoke inhalation as Civil Defense teams rushed to prevent the flames from reaching nearby homes.

Israeli military forces subsequently entered the area.

On Wednesday, Israeli forces launched extensive raids across several West Bank communities, including Burqa east of Ramallah and Ya’bad southwest of Jenin. Homes were searched, military reinforcements entered Nablus, and five Palestinians were reportedly arrested.

In occupied Jerusalem, settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on November 10 under heavy police protection and performed religious rituals near the Dome of the Rock.

Israeli bulldozers also demolished a car showroom in Hizma after closing the town’s entrances and restricting Palestinian movement. Several residents were detained near the Anata roundabout.

Taken together, these incidents illustrate the growing pressure facing Palestinian communities as military operations and Jewish settler activities increasingly overlap

Europe: Growing political resistance to Israeli policies

International criticism is becoming increasingly visible across European capitals.

On November 8, demonstrators gathered at Amsterdam’s Museumplein in a major solidarity rally organized by human rights organizations and civil society groups. Participants demanded a stronger Dutch position toward Israel and greater respect for Palestinian rights.

The Netherlands has already experienced significant legal controversy over military exports to Israel. In February 2024, an appeals court in The Hague ordered the suspension of F-35 fighter jet component exports to Israel. In October 2025, the Dutch Supreme Court overturned that order and instructed the government to reassess the export license in light of the risk of serious violations of international humanitarian law.

A further development came on September 22, 2026, when a Dutch restriction concerning the import, purchase, and sale of products originating from illegal Israeli settlements, alongside related commercial brokerage services, entered into force.

Meanwhile, former British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has demanded an immediate public investigation into Britain’s involvement in the war on Gaza.

The proposed inquiry would examine arms supplies, surveillance aircraft, and the use of Royal Air Force bases in connection with Israeli military operations.

A petition demanding a full public inquiry reportedly surpassed 100,000 signatures within two weeks. Although this does not automatically compel the government to establish an investigation, it demonstrates growing public concern over Britain’s military and political relationship with Israel.

Germany is also experiencing a political shift. The election highlights how the Palestinian issue is becoming increasingly important among younger German voters and immigrant communities. The Palestinian flag was raised outside the parliament in Berlin on November 8 by activists with ‘Peacefully Against Genocide”.

“What does international law mean if governments do not abide by it? What are human rights worth if they do not apply to everyone?” said Aaron, a member of the activist group.

Gaza: Winter threatens displaced families

While political debates continue across Europe, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening.

A recent severe winter storm brought heavy rain and strong winds to Gaza, damaging thousands of makeshift shelters.

According to figures previously released by Gaza’s Government Media Office, the storm flooded more than 70,000 tents and caused the collapse of dozens of damaged walls.

The consequences were deadly. Two women and three children died after a sandy and rocky embankment collapsed onto displaced families’ tents in Deir al-Balah, according to Civil Defense authorities.

The international credibility test

The developments across Europe and Palestine reveal an increasingly complicated political equation.

Israel continues to maintain important strategic relationships with Western governments, but its policies are facing growing scrutiny from political parties, human rights organizations, journalists, and ordinary citizens.

France is witnessing calls for more direct protection of humanitarian missions. Britain is confronting questions about its military involvement. The Netherlands is debating the legal and economic consequences of settlement activities, while Germany is experiencing an increasingly visible political debate over Palestinian rights.

Yet these developments have not produced a unified European policy toward Israel. Analysts explain the European Union (EU) is subservient to American foreign policy. As long as Washington supports the Genocide in Gaza, the EU will march in step.

At the same time, the expansion of pastoral outposts, industrial zones, and conventional settlements is steadily transforming the occupied West Bank. In Gaza, displaced families face another winter without adequate shelter, while the prospects for reconstruction remain uncertain.

The central issue is no longer simply whether European governments will express concern. It is whether they are prepared to translate that concern into meaningful political, economic, and legal measures.

For Palestinians, the struggle remains one of land, identity, dignity, and the right to determine their own future.

For the international community, the question is whether international law will be applied consistently or continue to be influenced by strategic alliances and political calculations.

Until words are followed by action, Israel’s settlement expansion and the humanitarian suffering of Palestinians will remain defining challenges for the credibility of the international order.

Steven Sahiounie is a two-time award-winning journalist.