West Bank settler attacks kill 1, injure 17, including foreigners

A wave of violence by illegal Israeli settlers across the occupied West Bank on Saturday resulted in one Palestinian fatality and left 17 others wounded, including international activists and journalists. The attacks targeted numerous communities and came as the United Nations reported a dramatic surge in settler violence against Palestinians.

Fatal Shooting and Widespread Assaults

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 26-year-old Abdul Rahman Darawsheh was killed after being shot by Israeli forces near Tubas. In separate incidents, groups of settlers assaulted Palestinian olive harvesters and international solidarity activists in several locations. In the town of Beita, south of Nablus, attackers injured participants including journalists from Reuters and Al Jazeera, causing fractures and bruises.

UN Reports Record Settler Violence

The violence coincides with a UN warning issued Friday about an alarming increase in attacks by Israeli settlers. UN spokesperson Farhan Haq reported 264 settler attacks in October alone, describing it as the highest monthly toll in nearly two decades of record-keeping. The attacks have particularly targeted farmers during the crucial olive harvest season.

Property Destruction and Additional Attacks

Beyond physical assaults, settlers engaged in widespread property destruction. In Abu Falah village northeast of Ramallah, settlers set fire to a Palestinian home, while in Deir Jarir, they cut down numerous olive trees. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported treating multiple casualties in Burin village, where settlers attacked harvesters east of the community.

International Court Position

The escalating violence occurs against the backdrop of last July's International Court of Justice opinion, which declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.