Israeli settlers wound 10 Palestinians in West Bank village assault

At least ten Palestinians have been injured during an attack by Israeli settlers on the village of Khalayel al-Louz near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, one individual sustained a gunshot wound to the thigh while nine others suffered injuries from physical assaults during the incident, which required three victims to be hospitalized while the remainder received on-site medical treatment.

Settler Violence and Property Destruction

Witnesses reported that the assailants entered the Palestinian village and targeted multiple residential properties while setting fire to plastic greenhouses used for agricultural purposes. The destruction of farming infrastructure represents a significant economic blow to the local community in Khalayel al-Louz, where agriculture serves as a primary livelihood for many residents in the northern West Bank region.

Military Operations and Detentions

Separately, Israeli military forces concluded operations in the town of Tammun and the al-Faraa refugee camp near Tubas, though operations continued in adjacent municipalities. Tammun Mayor Samir Bisharat confirmed that troops vacated residential properties they had converted into military positions and released most detainees, though six individuals were transferred to Israeli detention facilities. According to ambulance service director Nidal Odeh, approximately 130 people have been injured since the military operation began earlier in the week.

Broader Context and Casualty Figures

The Palestinian Prisoners' Society reported that Israeli forces detained 162 individuals during the recent operation, releasing most after conducting field interrogations that allegedly involved mistreatment. These incidents occur against the backdrop of escalating violence in the West Bank since October 2023, with over 1,085 Palestinians killed and 10,700 injured by Israeli military and settler actions, alongside more than 20,500 arrests according to Palestinian documentation.