Armed Israeli settlers torch Palestinian land, assault civilians in occupied West Bank
Israeli settlers have escalated their aggression in the occupied West Bank, setting fire to Palestinian agricultural land and intensifying attacks on Palestinian communities, reports citing local sources said.
Israeli settlers on Friday burned large swaths of agricultural land which belonged to the people of al-Mughayyir village, in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.
Under army protection, they also razed Palestinian-owned land in Beit Ta’mar village, in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, to expand illegal settlement.
Since October 7, 2023, when the Israeli regime began its genocidal; war against the Gaza Strip, settlers have increased their raids on Palestinian houses and land on the occupied West Bank.
Israeli settlers have carried out these attacks indiscriminately, resulting in numerous Palestinian casualties and widespread property damage. The settlers often use these incursions as a pretext to destroy Palestinian homes, torch their land, and establish new settlements.
These violent acts not only inflict physical harm on Palestinians but also contribute to the ongoing displacement and dispossession of families in the occupied territories.
The Israeli settlers on Friday also stormed the Arab al-Mlaihat community in the occupied West Bank city of Jericho.
Hasan Mlaihat, supervisor of the al-Baidar Organization in Defense of Bedouin Rights, has said the settlers barged their way into the community, attacked the inhabitants, and sprayed pepper in their faces.
He added that the settlers assaulted an inhabitant, injured him, caused him to suffocate from pepper spray, and intimidated his family members.
The Israeli forces stormed the town of Tuqu, southeast of the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, on the same day.
Taysir Abu Mifreh, director of the Tuqu Municipality, has said that the soldiers opened fire at a 19-year-old youth and injured him in the foot.
The Israeli forces always accompany the settlers during the raids so that in case of Palestinian resistance, they support the settlers with live munitions.
Approximately 1 million Israeli settlers live in colonies in the occupied West Bank and East al-Quds in violation of international law.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), between October 7, 2023 and May 2, 2025, the Israeli regime has killed at least 926 Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank, including 196 children.
