Israeli settlers attack Palestinian villages in occupied West Bank
Extremist settlers torched homes and vehicles across multiple West Bank locations overnight, wounding Palestinians and causing significant property damage.
2:31 PM
Extremist Jewish settlers carried out a spate of attacks on Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank overnight Saturday into Sunday, setting fire to homes, vehicles and agricultural fields, according to multiple reports.
The violence began after an 18-year-old settler, Yehuda Sherman, was killed on Saturday after reportedly being hit by a vehicle driven by a Palestinian while on his quad bike. Police said they were investigating whether the hit was deliberate or accidental.
In response, WhatsApp groups used by settlers called for a "revenge campaign" over his death, according to Haaretz newspaper. More than 20 settler attacks were reported overnight, according to a defence official cited by Israeli media.
Attacks were reported across at least half a dozen locations. In the village of al-Fandaqumiya, south of Jenin, settlers set fire to houses and cars and smashed windows of other homes as residents attempted to confront them and put out the fires, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa citing local sources.
In the nearby town of Seilat al-Dahr, several homes were targeted and a resident was beaten, leaving him injured. Further attacks were reported in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, where two Palestinians were wounded and three arrested after settlers entered the area.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said at least three Palestinians were hospitalized after Saturday's attacks, with local authorities reporting significant property damage across the territory. The attacks occurred on Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim festival of Ramadan.