The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, warned on Friday of the situation "risks spiralling out of control" in the occupied West Bank, in the wake of recent settler attacks on several areas.

In a statement on Friday, Türk said that the deterioration was "fuelled by strident political rhetoric and an escalation in the use of advanced military weaponry by Israel."

In a statement today, Friday, the High Commissioner called on the Israeli authorities to abide by international law in regard to the use of lethal force, after the Israeli forces operation in the Jenin refugee camp on Monday, which resulted in the killing of at least seven Palestinians, including a boy and a girl, and the injury of 91 others.

He called for "effective investigations into cases of killings committed by Israeli forces, where there is sufficient evidence of violations of national or international law," calling for "the suspected perpetrators to be held accountable."

The High Commissioner noted that “Israel must urgently reset its policies and actions in the Occupied West Bank in line with international human rights standards, including protecting and respecting the right to life."

“As the occupying power, Israel also has obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure public order and safety within the Occupied Palestinian Territory," he added.

Since the beginning of this year, Israel has killed at least 179 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, including 30 children. In the last 12 months, Israel has killed 230 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the highest number in the past 17 years.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stressed that “For this violence to end, the occupation must end."

“On all sides, the people with the political power know this and must instigate immediate steps to realize this," he concluded.