The siege of the Israeli occupation army on the town of Huwara and the neighboring villages south of Nablus entered its sixth consecutive Friday, and while representatives of the European Union condemned the settler attacks on this town, international criticism continued for the statements of an Israeli minister calling for its burning and erasure from existence.

The occupation forces continued to close Hawara, but partially opened the town's road, while keeping all shops in the town south of Nablus closed.

For its part, the municipality of Hawara said that the Palestinian Civil Liaison informed it that the occupation forces allowed the opening of the doors of shops in the town, starting from Friday evening.

European visit

Al-Jazeera correspondent reported that representatives of European Union countries in the Palestinian territories, diplomats from 20 countries and human rights institutions, including Israeli ones, visited Huwwara and the village of Za'tara, south of Nablus, to see closely the repercussions of settler attacks on Palestinians and their property, which led to the death of a Palestinian and the burning of dozens of homes and vehicles.

This international delegation condemned the acts of violence that took place in Hawara, Nablus Governorate in the West Bank, and called for accountability for the perpetrators of crimes against the Palestinians.

The delegation listened to the testimonies of Palestinian citizens and an explanation from the residents of what they were subjected to during the attacks on them by the settlers, which they said took place under the cover of the occupation army.

The family of the Palestinian Sameh Aktash - who was martyred during acts of violence carried out by settlers - received condolences from the international delegation.

In a speech to journalists after offering condolences, a representative of the European Union called for an end to settler violence in all areas, stressing that the residents, families and children have the right to live in safety and freedom.

The European Union had previously condemned these attacks and demanded an end to what it called the spiral of violence in the region, and a return to calm in line with the recent Aqaba summit agreement to reduce the intensity of escalation.

Last Sunday, Hawara was attacked by settlers, hours after the killing of two settlers working in the occupation army while they were driving their car through the town in the northern occupied West Bank.

Dozens of settlers set fire to Palestinian homes and cars, and threw stones at the town throughout the night.

Palestinian martyrdom

In a related context, a Palestinian boy was killed and another was injured during clashes with the occupation forces in the town of Azzun, east of Qalqilya in the West Bank.

Yesterday evening, Thursday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said that the 15-year-old, Muhammad Salim, was killed by a bullet in the back, while another was seriously wounded.

Eyewitnesses said that violent clashes broke out with Israeli forces as they stormed the eastern entrance to the town, as the occupation soldiers fired live bullets at the town's youth.

In Jericho, in the occupied West Bank, the occupation forces re-established military checkpoints at the entrances to the city.

A comprehensive strike took place in Jericho, mourning the martyr Mahmoud Hamdan, who was killed by Israeli bullets during the storming of the "Aqabat Jaber" camp the day before yesterday.

Since the beginning of the year, the occupation's incursions into Palestinian cities and villages have resulted in the death of 65 Palestinians.

Israeli dispute

In a related context, the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, attacked Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, against the background of the latter signing administrative orders to arrest 4 settlers who participated in the crime of attacking Palestinians and their property in Huwwara.

Ben Gvir said that the Minister of Defense, who follows what he described as a policy of containing the situation, chose to issue these orders at a time when what he called "heroic settlers" were suffering from "deadly terrorist acts."

He also said that he would clarify the matter with Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, especially after the court ordered the release of two of the detainees.

international condemnations

In response to the position of the Israeli Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, calling for erasing the town of Hawara, the European Union office in Jerusalem said that Smotrich's call to erase Hawara is unacceptable, and expressed its deep concern about the escalation of violence.

He added - in a special statement to Al-Jazeera - that these statements incite random violence, describing it as going in the opposite direction, unacceptable and intolerable.

The EU office said it was necessary to take immediate de-escalation measures in the town.

He also called on the Israeli government to disavow these statements, and to work with all concerned parties to defuse the tension.

For his part, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, said that the position of the Israeli finance minister is provocative, inflammatory, unacceptable, and contradicts the decisions of the international organization.

Earlier, US State Department spokesman Ned Price described the Israeli Finance Minister's statements as "abhorrent, disgusting and irresponsible."

Price called on the Israeli prime minister and other senior officials to publicly denounce the minister's remarks.