Settler Violence Escalates in West Bank, Homes Burned

Israeli settlers launched a series of violent attacks on Palestinian towns in the occupied West Bank overnight, burning homes and clashing with Israeli troops.

There were no immediate reports of any Palestinian casualties. The attacks, which came amid a surge in settler violence since the war in Gaza began, targeted multiple villages, including Beit Furik, just over five miles from the city of Nablus.

The Israeli military said settlers attacked the village after troops arrived to dismantle an unauthorized farming outpost near the settlement.

The settlers reportedly threw stones at Israeli soldiers, injuring two members of the paramilitary Border Police. One group entered Beit Furik and set property on fire, leaving behind a blackened home and a destroyed car.

Mohammed Hanani looks at his damaged car following a settler attack that damaged vehicles and houses in the village of Beit Furik, near the West Bank city of Nablus, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. The West... Majdi Mohammed/AP Photo

What Happened in the Village of Huwara?

Settlers also attacked Huwara, a village that has been the target of previous settler violence even before the war in Gaza.

The attacks escalated as settlers clashed with Israeli soldiers near the Palestinian village of Rujeib. The escalation highlights the ongoing tensions in the West Bank, where violence has surged in recent months, driven by settler activity and the broader context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israeli authorities, including the police and Shin Bet security agency, have initiated an investigation into the attacks. They arrested eight Israelis for property damage and assaulting security forces in connection with the incidents.

How Are Settler Attacks Affecting Palestinians?

Since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in around 1,200 Israelis being killed and about 250 being taken hostage, sparking the current conflict in Gaza, settler violence in the West Bank has spiked, with rights groups attributing the increase to the establishment of new outposts on land privately owned by Palestinians.

A house damaged following a settler attack that also damaged vehicles and other houses in the village of Beit Furik, near the West Bank city of Nablus, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. The Israeli military said... Majdi Mohammed/AP Photo

The UN's humanitarian office reported that West Bank settler attacks on Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest season in 2024 "at least tripled" compared to previous years, exacerbating tensions.

The West Bank is home to approximately three million Palestinians living under Israeli military rule, while about 500,000 Jewish settlers reside in more than 100 settlements, many considered illegal under international law. The international community largely views these settlements as a barrier to peace and a key issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where Israeli military operations against Hamas have caused over 44,500 deaths in Gaza since October 2023, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Why Are Settler Attacks Intensifying?

The surge in settler violence reflects broader tensions stemming from Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and east Jerusalem.

Palestinians seek these territories for an independent state, while Israel maintains control over the West Bank, citing security concerns.

The increase in settler activity has raised alarms about the possibility of further destabilizing an already volatile region.

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press