West Bank settler attacks leave five Palestinians injured in coordinated assaults

Palestinian authorities reported that a series of coordinated attacks by Israeli settlers across the occupied West Bank late Saturday left at least five Palestinians injured. The assaults, occurring in separate locations, underscore a concerning pattern of escalating violence against Palestinian civilians and their property in the territory.

Details of the Attacks

According to the Palestinian WAFA news agency, three Palestinians were beaten by armed settlers while working on their land in the town of Beit Imrin, north of Nablus. The victims sustained bruises and various injuries, with one requiring hospital transport by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. In a separate incident east of Ramallah, two Palestinians were injured after settlers blocked a road between Ramoun village and Deir Dibwan town before assaulting them. One victim suffered head injuries and was hospitalized.

Broader Pattern of Settler Violence

Additional reports indicated settler activity in Qusra, south of Nablus, and the targeting of a cave in the Wadi I’mer area near al-Mughayyir village. These events are not isolated; the Palestinian Authority’s Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission documented at least 468 settler attacks against Palestinians and their property in January 2024 alone. This violence occurs within the wider context of intensified Israeli military operations in the West Bank since the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023.

International Context and Legal Stance

The ongoing violence and expansion of settlements in the West Bank have drawn significant international legal scrutiny. In a landmark opinion in July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Palestinian estimates state that since October 2023, over 1,100 Palestinians have been killed and more than 21,000 detained in the West Bank, framing the settler attacks as part of a broader strategy aimed at territorial annexation.