UN spokeswoman condemns violence in West Bank

U.N. human rights Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani on Wednesday condemned the recent violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, warning that the violence by Israeli settlers and widening annexation of Palestinian territory in the area is "only getting worse."

In a video released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the spokeswoman said eight Palestinians, including a boy, as well as two members of the Israeli military had been killed in the occupied West Bank since last Thursday.

She said settlers and Israeli security forces had attacked local communities, assaulting families, destroying and confiscating property, and burning mosques, adding that tighter movement restrictions are now blocking Palestinians from reaching essential services.

"We are alarmed by the Israeli government's announcement to further increase the number of settlements and outposts, and open calls by Israeli leaders for revenge and collective punishment against Palestinian communities, accompanied by threats to turn the West Bank into another Gaza," said the spokeswoman.

Noting that attacks by Israeli settlers and the creation of settlements and outposts are hitting an all-time high, Shamdasani called on third states to act urgently and in unison to halt the continuing killing and dispossession of the Palestinian people, and to bring an end to the Israeli occupation.

Tokyo stocks ended mixed Thursday, as gains in AI- and chip-related shares following robust earnings results pared losses on concerns over Middle East tensions.

The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended up 433.24 points, or 0.71 percent, from Wednesday at 61,867.43.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 21.53 points, or 0.54 percent, lower at 3,952.50.

Stocks tracked overnight Wall Street losses after U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States would retaliate against Iran following its overnight missile attack on U.S. forces in Jordan, sending the West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures above 80 U.S. dollars per barrel, analysts said.

However, semiconductor testing equipment maker Advantest's better-than-expected earnings results sent artificial intelligence- and semiconductor-related shares higher and lifted the Nikkei stock index into positive territory.