Recent reports from eyewitnesses reveal a troubling escalation of violence in the occupied West Bank as Israeli settlers have been surrounding Palestinian towns and attacking residents. The situation, which unfolded on a Saturday afternoon, has sparked widespread concern.
In the village of Duma, southeast of Nablus, videos obtained by sources show settlers setting houses and cars ablaze, creating a scene of chaos and destruction. Eyewitnesses describe how settlers stormed houses, leading to clashes with Palestinians. One video captured from Duma depicts a man referring to the situation as a 'street war.'
Clashes between Palestinians and settlers have also been reported in the villages of Deir Dibwan and Beitin, east of Ramallah. Footage circulating on social media shows Palestinians throwing rocks at settlers, while Israeli military vehicles respond by firing tear gas to disperse the crowds. Additionally, videos show an increased Israeli military presence at a checkpoint near the town of Sinjil, northeast of Ramallah.
The Palestinian Red Crescent has confirmed that over a dozen Palestinians have been hospitalized across the West Bank, with most of them sustaining injuries from gunfire during the confrontations.
These incidents follow a tragic event in the village of Al-Mughayyir, where a Palestinian man lost his life in a large-scale attack. The violence erupted during a search operation for a missing 14-year-old Israeli boy from a nearby settlement. The Israel Defense Forces have since announced the boy's death, though the circumstances surrounding it remain unclear. The IDF's claim that this was not a 'terrorist attack' is yet to be substantiated.
The situation in the West Bank remains tense, with ongoing clashes and escalating violence between Israeli settlers and Palestinian residents. The international community is closely monitoring the developments, urging for restraint and a peaceful resolution to prevent further bloodshed.
