JERUSALEM - In a disturbing turn of events, a group of irate Israeli settlers broke into a Palestinian village in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, unleashing a wave of violence by shooting and setting fire to houses and cars. The chaos resulted in the death of a Palestinian man and left 25 others injured, as reported by Palestinian health authorities. This incident is just the latest episode in a series of escalating tensions in the West Bank amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
According to an Israeli rights organization, the settlers were on a mission to locate a missing 14-year-old boy from their settlement. Following the rampage, Israeli military forces continued their quest to find the teenager. The fatal attack occurred after Israeli forces carried out a raid overnight that led to the deaths of two Palestinians, among them a member of Hamas, in a clash with Israeli troops.
Since the eruption of the conflict in October, Palestinian health officials have recorded over 460 Palestinian deaths in the West Bank due to Israeli confrontations. Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group, reported that the settlers descended upon the village of al-Mughayyir late on Friday evening in search of the Israeli boy. The group alleged that the settlers resorted to gunfire and arson, targeting homes within the village.
Video footage shared by the rights group depicted thick plumes of smoke engulfing burning vehicles amidst the sound of gunfire. Additionally, a photo posted by the organization showed a cluster of masked settlers. The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that one individual was pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital, while 25 others received medical treatment for their injuries.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society stated that eight of the wounded individuals had been struck by live ammunition fired by settlers. The deceased victim was later identified by his family as 26-year-old Jehad Abu Alia. His father, Afif Abu Alia, disclosed that his son had been fatally shot, though the source of the fatal bullet remained uncertain, whether it was from an armed settler or Israeli soldier.
Expressing condemnation for the attack, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa denounced the violence that unfolded in the village. The Israeli military reaffirmed its search for the missing 14-year-old boy and explained that Israeli soldiers responded with gunfire upon encountering Palestinians hurling stones at them. The military confirmed successful hits on their targets and noted the evacuation of Israeli settlers from the village.
Amidst the escalating tensions, various U.S. officials, including President Joe Biden, have voiced concerns about the escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank during Israel's conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Ongoing criticisms from rights groups have accused the military of failing to curb settler violence or hold soldiers accountable for their actions. Before the village incident, two Palestinians had lost their lives in altercations with Israeli forces in the northern West Bank on the same day, as reported by Palestinian medics and the military. Hamas disclosed that one of the deceased individuals was a local military leader.
The military asserted that the primary target of the military operation was Mohammed Daraghmeh, a local Hamas commander. Upon engaging with Daraghmeh, soldiers encountered weapons within his vehicle and a subsequent shootout led to his demise. The army alleged that Daraghmeh had been plotting attacks against Israeli targets, although no concrete evidence was provided.
Additionally, assailants were reported to have thrown explosives at the soldiers during the encounter. The Israel-Hamas conflict began on Oct. 7, with Hamas launching a surprise attack and incursion into southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis, predominantly civilians.
Nearly 250 individuals were abducted as hostages and taken to Gaza by the militants. In response, Israel announced the opening of a new aid truck crossing into the badly affected northern region of Gaza to amplify aid deliveries to the besieged enclave. However, the United Nations highlighted persistent challenges in aid distribution, leading to a lack of tangible impact felt in Gaza.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has pushed the Palestinian territory into a severe humanitarian crisis, with over one million people on the brink of starvation. Israeli military offensives and bombardments have resulted in the death of more than 33,600 Palestinians and injuries to over 76,200 individuals, according to the Health Ministry. The casualty figures encompass both civilians and combatants, with women and children comprising a significant portion of the fatalities.
Although Israel claims to have eliminated over 12,000 militants during the war, no evidence has been provided to substantiate this assertion. The conflict continues to wreak havoc on the region, with no immediate resolution in sight.
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