Israeli Settlers Launch Coordinated Attacks on West Bank Communities
Israeli settlers have executed a series of violent assaults across the occupied West Bank, targeting multiple Palestinian communities in what witnesses describe as coordinated raids. The attacks, which occurred overnight from Saturday into Sunday, involved setting homes and vehicles on fire, resulting in several injuries among Palestinians. This surge in violence unfolds during Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, and amid heightened tensions in the territory.
Details of the Assaults
According to reports from the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, settlers infiltrated al-Fandaqumiya and the nearby town of Seilat al-Dahr, south of Jenin, late on Saturday. In al-Fandaqumiya, they ignited houses and cars while smashing windows of other residences as locals attempted to confront them and extinguish the flames. In Seilat al-Dahr, multiple homes were targeted, and a resident was beaten, leaving him injured.
Further incidents were reported in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, where two Palestinians were wounded and three arrested after settlers entered under the protection of Israeli forces. In the villages of Qaryout and Jaloud, south of Nablus, vehicles were burned and residents injured during similar raids. Images from Jaloud showed a four-wheel-drive vehicle reduced to a charred shell.
Widespread Violence and Inaction
Elsewhere, settlers gathered along roads near Haris, west of Salfit, and near Rawabi in the Ramallah area, hurling stones at passing Palestinian vehicles. Comparable events occurred in Tuqou, south-east of Bethlehem. Witnesses described chaotic scenes in Qaryout and Jaloud, where about 100 masked settlers carried out successive waves of raids, setting vehicles ablaze and attacking homes. At least five cars were burned, and others, including a fire engine, were vandalized.
Israeli troops and police were present on the outskirts of the villages by 2 a.m. but did not intervene to stop the attacks, which continued into the night, or prevent settlers from moving between communities. Footage from a CCTV camera captured a large group of hooded settlers dressed in black withdrawing from Jaloud.
Broader Context and Condemnation
These attacks are part of a broader escalation in settler violence that has intensified since the start of the war in Gaza. According to the UN, Israeli forces and settlers have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 2023. Human rights organizations, such as B’Tselem, accuse the Israeli government of enabling such violence as a strategy to cement control over Palestinian land, with the UN warning that Israeli policies risk forcibly displacing communities.
The Israeli military stated it responded to incidents involving civilians carrying out arson and disturbances but did not report any arrests. In a separate incident, Israeli forces shot and wounded two Palestinians late on Saturday at the Jabara checkpoint, south of Tulkarem, as reported by the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
Political Reactions and Further Incidents
Yair Golan, leader of Israel’s centre-left Democrats, condemned the violence on Sunday, accusing the government of encouraging lawlessness in the occupied West Bank. He criticized extremist ministers and the prime minister for backing what he termed Jewish terrorism, exploiting the war for their agenda.
In related events, B’Tselem reported on March 15 that Israeli troops opened fire on a vehicle in Tamoun in the northern Jordan Valley, killing a Palestinian couple and two of their children. The military initially prevented ambulances from reaching the scene and confiscated the bullet-riddled vehicle. Another attack in March involved settlers sexually assaulting a Palestinian man, tying his genitalia with zip ties and parading him naked in front of his family.
Since the beginning of the year, Israel has killed at least 26 Palestinians in the West Bank, with at least 18 shot by the military, highlighting the ongoing crisis and lack of accountability in the region.
