CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Pope Leo called on Sunday for an end to violence against Palestinians ‌in the occupied West Bank, amid a surge of ‌attacks by militant settlers and a siege in the territory's village of Qusra.

Israeli ​settlers encircled houses after cutting off water and electricity, in what rights groups have said is a concerted effort to seize more land, and further eat into territory where Palestinians aim to establish ‌a state.

"I renew my ⁠appeal for an end to the repeated violence against the Palestinian civilian population in the West ⁠Bank," the Pope said, without mentioning specific confrontations or attacks.

"I urgently ask the international community to take action so as to advance ​the two-state ​solution, for a fair and ​lasting peace," the Pope ‌added after noon prayers at his Castel Gandolfo residence outside Rome.

The Vatican has long backed the idea of a future Palestinian state, which has been recognised by more than 150 of 193 U.N. member states as encompassing the Gaza Strip and West ‌Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister ​Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition government has overseen ​massive settlement construction in ​the West Bank that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich ‌says is aimed at burying ​the idea of ​such a state.

The United Nations and most governments consider the settlements to be illegal under international law related to ​military occupation. Israel ‌seized the West Bank in the 1967 war, but argues ​the territory is disputed rather than occupied.

(Reporting by Valentina ​Za; Editing by Andrew Heavens)