Israeli settlers torch Palestinian vehicles in West Bank town

Illegal Israeli settlers conducted an arson attack in the occupied West Bank early Friday, setting fire to three Palestinian-owned vehicles in Deir Dibwan near Ramallah. According to local resident Mohammad Samer, settlers entered the town before dawn and torched the vehicles, completely destroying two cars and partially damaging a third before residents chased the attackers away.

Pattern of Escalating Violence

This incident occurs amid what observers describe as an intensified Israeli campaign against Palestinians in the West Bank, even as a ceasefire holds in Gaza. The attack follows a recent preliminary Knesset vote on West Bank annexation and reflects a broader pattern of settler violence that has escalated throughout the two-year Gaza conflict, with Israeli authorities frequently accused of tolerating such assaults.

Documented Assault Statistics

Official Palestinian documentation reveals a systematic pattern of settler violence, with the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission recording 7,154 assaults against Palestinians and their properties over two years. These attacks have resulted in 33 Palestinian fatalities and the forced displacement of 33 Bedouin communities, creating a humanitarian crisis alongside the military operations.

Broader West Bank Casualties

Local authorities report that more than 1,057 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the Gaza war began, with approximately 10,300 injured and over 20,000 detained—including 1,600 children. These developments contradict last July's International Court of Justice opinion that declared Israel's occupation illegal and demanded evacuation of West Bank and East Jerusalem settlements.