- Israeli settlers launch violent attack on West Bank village
- The violence resulted in the death of a local villager in his early 20s and left another critically injured
- The settlers, some masked, threw rocks and Molotov cocktails during the assault
- Israeli authorities and the international community have condemned the attack
Israeli settlers launch violent attack on West Bank village
Dozens of Israeli settlers launched an attack on the Palestinian village of Jit in the occupied West Bank, setting fire to homes and vehicles. The violence, which occurred on Thursday evening, resulted in the death of a local villager in his early 20s and left another critically injured, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The settlers, some masked, threw rocks and Molotov cocktails during the assault.
Israeli authorities, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, condemned the attack and promised to hold the perpetrators accountable. One Israeli national was detained in connection with the incident, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF stated that their forces responded quickly, dispersing the attackers and launching a joint investigation with Israel’s security agency and police.
The attack has drawn international condemnation, with the US describing the settler violence as “unacceptable” and calling on Israeli authorities to protect all communities and hold those responsible accountable. The incident is part of a broader pattern of settler violence against Palestinians, with over 1,000 attacks recorded since October, according to the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
While global attention remains on the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, the escalating settler violence has led the US, EU, and UK to impose sanctions on some settler leaders and outposts.