Escalation in West Bank Unrest as Zionist Israeli Forces and Settlers Conduct Aggressive Raids
Israeli forces have escalated their military operations in various regions of the West Bank, as the entity maintains its assertive stance in the area amidst the continuing violence in Gaza.
The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that two Palestinian youths sustained injuries on Saturday evening amid clashes with Israeli forces in the eastern part of the occupied West Bank city of Ariha.
The report indicated that one individual sustained injuries from live gunfire, while another was harmed due to a physical assault.
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, one of the victims suffered a gunshot wound, while the other incurred a head injury from an assault. Both individuals have been transported to a hospital for medical care.
According to WAFA, Israeli forces established a military checkpoint in the eastern region of Ariha, where they reportedly fired live ammunition at civilians and engaged in assaults on several individuals.
On Saturday evening, tensions flared as numerous Israeli settlers launched an assault on the town of Deir Dibwan, east of Ramallah, resulting in injuries to several Palestinians.
According to WAFA, settlers attempted to breach the eastern entrance of the town, prompting a confrontation with local residents. The clash led to several minor injuries among the Palestinians involved.
Amid the presence of Israeli occupation forces, settlers reportedly attacked Palestinian civilians in the vicinity between the town of Ni’lin and the village of Qibya, located west of Ramallah.
Youssef al-Khawaja, the leader of the Ni’lin municipality, was reported by WAFA to have stated that settlers launched an assault on multiple Palestinians on their property, compelling them to vacate the area. The settlers allegedly released sheep into the fields, causing significant damage to agricultural crops.
Khawaja highlighted the ongoing issues of settler violence in Ni’lin, emphasizing repeated incidents emanating from an outpost situated on Palestinian territory in the Jabal al-‘Alam region, located on the town’s periphery.
In the town of Sa’ir, located northeast of al-Khalil, reports have emerged of Israeli settlers armed with guns launching an assault on Palestinian farmers while they were engaged in agricultural activities on their land.
Israeli security forces, present at the scene to maintain order, detained a young Palestinian individual amid efforts to protect local farmers.
The events highlight a growing trend of organized aggression by Israeli settlers towards Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, a situation reportedly supported both actively and passively by Israeli forces.
In April, Israeli settlers were reported to have carried out 231 incidents involving vandalism and theft of Palestinian property. The hostilities extended to the extensive destruction of farmland and the uprooting of 1,168 olive trees, with 530 in Ramallah and al-Bireh, 300 in Nablus, and 298 in Salfit.
Since October 7, 2023, there has been a significant escalation of violence in the West Bank, following a large-scale offensive initiated in Gaza. During this period, approximately 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied territory by Israeli forces and settlers.
According to the health ministry in Gaza, the Israeli military offensive commencing from October 7, 2023, has resulted in the deaths of at least 54,381 Palestinians, with a significant number being women and children, and has left more than 124,381 individuals injured.
