Israeli settlers went on a violent spree in various Palestinian villages overnight from Saturday to Sunday, causing damage to property, injuring individuals, and sparking tensions in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian news agency WAFA documented assaults in multiple communities, with at least three Palestinians in Jalud sustaining head injuries from confrontations with settlers. The clashes occurred amidst Israel’s ongoing establishment of new settlements in the region, contributing to a surge in violence following the onset of the Iran conflict.
According to reports, settlers engaged in arson and disturbances, prompting a response from the Israeli military. The attacks targeted villages such as Silat al Dahr, Fandaqumiya, Jalud, Salfit, Masafer Yatta, and the Jordan Valley. Homes and vehicles were set on fire, individuals were pepper-sprayed, and several people were wounded during the assaults, which coincided with the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs disclosed that 25 Palestinians had been killed by settlers and soldiers in the region by mid-March. The Palestinian Authority also documented incidents of arson, including attacks on mosques, across the territory.
The violent incident occurred shortly after an 18-year-old settler died in a collision with a Palestinian vehicle near the targeted villages. Authorities are investigating claims by the settlers that the collision was intentional.
