Israeli settlers attack villages in the West Bank under the protection of the army | News about the occupied West Bank
Israeli settlers attack Palestinian villages, burn vehicles and injure several residents in the West Bank.
Israeli settlers set fire to vehicles and properties under the protection of Israeli forces, while also injuring several Palestinians across the occupied West Bank.
Jalal Bashir, head of the Jinasfut village council, told the Wafa news agency on Monday evening that the attacks took place in the villages of Jinasfut and Funduq, east of Qalqilya.
He added that dozens of Israeli settlers broke into Jinasfut and set fire to three houses, a kindergarten and a workshop. Settlers also set fire to several vehicles owned by Palestinian residents.
One Palestinian suffered a head injury while trying to protect his home. Several others were being treated after inhaling tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers.
In the southern West Bank, Israeli settlers also raided a Palestinian house in the Masafer Yatta area. Dozens of settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles south of Hebron, damaging several of them.
Yesh Din, which monitors human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, shared video clips showing Palestinian-owned vehicles and a building on fire from earlier settler attacks.
#Cease-fire? Not on the West Coast
Tonight dozens of settlers are attacking Palestinian villages across the West Bank.
In the village of Sinjil – Settlers set fire to two houses and at least four vehicles.
In the village of Ein Siniya – Settlers attacked and burned houses.
IN… pic.twitter.com/nZ24wiEK5B— Yesh Din English (@Yesh_Din) January 19, 2025
According to the group, settlers set fire to two Palestinian houses and torched at least four vehicles in the village of Sinjil, located northeast of Ramallah. In the village of Ein Siniya, settlers attacked and set fire to houses, north of Ramallah. It added that settlers attacked and damaged property owned by Palestinians in Turmus Aya, northeast of Ramallah, and also threw stones at vehicles on Road 60, near al-Lubban Asharqiya, south of Nablus.
The attacks by Israeli settlers come after US President Donald Trump signed an order on Monday to lift US sanctions against them in the occupied West Bank. The Biden administration described them as part of “extremist settlement movement”.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Palestine also expressed concern over a “wave of renewed violence” by Israeli settlers and armed forces in the occupied West Bank.
“The UN Human Rights Office is alarmed by the wave of renewed violence perpetrated by settlers and Israeli security forces in the occupied West Bank, which coincides with the implementation of the cease-fire agreement in Gaza,” the statement said.
.@OHCHR_Palestine is alarmed by the wave of renewed violence perpetrated by settlers and Israeli security forces in the occupied country #West Coastwhich coincides with the implementation of the cease-fire agreement in Gaza and the release of hostages and detainees. This is accompanied by…
— UN Human Rights Palestine (@OHCHR_Palestine) January 20, 2025
The OHCHR also said the violence was accompanied by increased restrictions on Palestinians’ freedom of movement, including the closing of checkpoints and the installation of new gates, resulting in entire communities being locked down.
Noting multiple recent settler attacks on Palestinian villages, as well as a raid by Israeli forces in several West Bank towns on Monday that killed a Palestinian teenager, OHCHR also said it was concerned about Israel’s plans to expand and increase operations in Palestinian territory.
