Russia Slams Israel After Settlers Attack Diplomatic Vehicle in Occupied West Bank

Russia has lodged a formal complaint with Israel after a vehicle belonging to its diplomatic mission to the Palestinian Authority was attacked by Israeli settlers near an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank.

In a statement on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the July 30 incident as a “gross violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations” and criticised Israeli soldiers at the scene for failing to intervene.

The attack reportedly took place near Giv’at Asaf, an illegal settlement located east of Ramallah and about 20km north of Jerusalem. The vehicle, marked with diplomatic plates and carrying Russian diplomats, sustained mechanical damage during the incident, Zakharova said. She added that the diplomats were also subjected to verbal threats.

According to Russian media, the car was transporting staff from Russia’s diplomatic mission to the Palestinian Authority, who are also accredited with Israel’s Foreign Ministry.

Zakharova said the Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv had delivered an official demarche to Israeli authorities.

“The attack occurred with the connivance of Israeli military personnel,” she said, calling it unacceptable.

The incident was also raised during a UN Security Council session on Tuesday. Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, said the attack occurred “under the lenient eye of the Israeli military” and highlighted it as part of what he described as Israel’s broader “policy of cleansing and colonising” Palestinian territories.

“It is ordinary Palestinians and even foreigners who every day become victims of relentless raids by security forces and settler violence,” Polyansky said, warning that continued violence could push the region toward a broader conflict.

Tensions in the West Bank have surged since October 2023. According to the United Nations, nearly 650 Palestinians, including 121 children, have been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers between January 2024 and early July 2025. Over 5,200 others were injured, including more than 1,000 children.

Settler violence alone accounted for over 2,200 injuries and incidents of property damage in that time period, the UN said.

The Israeli government has yet to publicly comment on the attack or the Russian complaint.