Israeli settlers carried out a series of violent attacks across the occupied West Bank on Saturday, setting fire to buildings, homes and vehicles and beating and pepper-spraying Palestinians who tried to intervene. The incidents took place on Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan.
Local authorities said the assaults were concentrated near the towns of Jenin and Nablus and affected at least six communities. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that at least three Palestinians were hospitalized, and extensive property damage was recorded across the territory.
On Sunday the Israeli military said soldiers were deployed to several Palestinian villages, describing the move as a response to reports of civilians committing arson and taking part in disturbances. The army said it “condemns any form of violence and will continue to take measures to ensure the security of residents and public order in the region.” Israeli authorities, however, reported no arrests tied to Saturday’s incidents.
Earlier this week Israel’s army chief, Eyal Zamir, called attacks by extremist settlers on Palestinians “morally and ethically unacceptable.” Human rights groups have long accused Israeli authorities of failing to protect Palestinians and their property in the West Bank, and in some cases of siding with violent settlers.
Settler violence in the West Bank has a long history but has intensified recently amid expansion of settlements. Observers say incidents increased after Israel and the United States launched their campaign against Iran on February 28. The establishment and expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are widely condemned as illegal under international law; in 2024 the International Court of Justice issued an opinion stating Israel must immediately halt all new settlement activities and evacuate settlers from occupied Palestinian territory.
The West Bank is home to about 3 million Palestinians. A commonly discussed two-state solution envisions the West Bank and Gaza Strip as the territory of a future Palestinian state. More than 500,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements and outposts, a presence critics say undermines the feasibility of a two-state outcome.
Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah