In a joint statement, diplomatic missions includingFrance, Spain and Britain said they were "appalled" by the recent killings.
"We strongly condemn increasing settler terror and violence by the Israeli security forces inflicted upon Palestinian communities," the diplomats said.
"This violence by settler militias,aimed at taking over land and creating a coercive environment, forcing Palestinians to leave their homes, must end."
The statement called on the Israeli authorities to "prevent and prosecute the lethal violence, raids and attacks".
Since the start of March, six Palestinians have been shot dead in settler attacks in the West Bank, according to a tally of data from the Ramallah-based health ministry.
'Morally and ethically unacceptable'
On Wednesday,Israel's military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir described the rise in settler violence in theWest Bankas "morally and ethically unacceptable".
US broadcaster CNN recently reported the case of Palestinian Abu al-Kebash who claimed to have beensexually assaultedby settlers in his village of Khirbet Humsa, describing sexual assault as "a new weapon in these settlers arsenal of intimidation".
More than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements and outposts in the West Bank, which are illegal under international law, alongside roughly three million Palestinians.
On Tuesday, the UN urged Israel to immediatelyhalt its dramatic settlement expansionin the West Bank, where it has raised concerns of "ethnic cleansing" with more than 36,000 Palestinians displaced in a single year.
Deadly Israeli settler violence surges in West Bank during Iran war
Sharp rise in violence
Violence in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has risen sharply since the 7 October, 2023Hamasattack on Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza.
According to the Palestinian Authority, Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 1,050 Palestinians many of them militants, but also scores of civilians in the West Bank since the start ofthe Gaza war.
Attacks have further spiked since the start ofIranwar on 28 February.
'Not our war': Palestinians mourn first dead after Iran missile fire
Israeli troops last weekshot dead two children and their parentsin a car, Palestinian authorities said. The Israeli military and police said soldiers opened fire on the vehicle over a perceived safety threat.
Official Israeli figures say 45 Israelis, including soldiers and civilians, have also been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations.
(with newswires)
Originally published on RFI
