Israeli Settlers Attack West Bank Village; Officials Condemn

A violent attack by Israeli settlers has left a Palestinian town in the occupied West Bank in ruins, sparking strong condemnation from top Israeli leaders.

On Thursday, more than 70 armed settlers stormed the town of Jit, shooting at residents, and using tear gas. They also set fire to several homes, cars, and other property, according to Nasser Sedda, the head of Jit’s village council. During the attack, Sedda’s cousin, 23-year-old Rashid Sedda, was killed. The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Health confirmed his death, citing a chest injury as the cause.

“We’ve had attacks before, but nothing like this,” Nasser Sedda told CNN. “It was unprecedented, with no warning, and they caught everyone off guard—women, children, and the elderly.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that dozens of masked Israeli citizens were involved, setting fires and throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails. The IDF said that the settlers were eventually dispersed by Israeli security forces, and one person was taken into custody for questioning. The IDF, along with the security agency ISA and Israeli Police, has launched an investigation into the attack and the death of the Palestinian resident.

Video footage of the incident shows cars engulfed in flames and the ground floor of a two-story building on fire. Another video captures medics attempting to save Rashid Sedda’s life. In the chaos, residents are seen trying to extinguish the flames, while someone shouts, “The settlers attacked us and set fire to the cars.”

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported treating three people for injuries sustained in the attack, including an elderly woman who suffered from gas inhalation and two young men who were injured by stones.

Top Israeli officials quickly condemned the assault. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement expressing his deep concern, vowing that those responsible would be arrested and brought to trial. Interior Minister Moshe Arbel called the attacks a “serious nationalist crime” that goes against Jewish values, while Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described the riots as “violent” and “radical,” condemning them as contrary to the principles of the Israeli state.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also condemned the violence, urging swift justice for the perpetrators. He noted that the attack harmed both the settler community and Israel’s international standing during a particularly sensitive time.

Even some West Bank settlement leaders criticized the attacks, distancing themselves from the rioters, whom they described as “outsiders.”

For years, Israeli settlers have been attacking Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank. Between October 7, 2023, and August 5, 2024, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recorded at least 1,143 attacks by settlers against Palestinians, with at least 114 of those resulting in Palestinian casualties.

In response to the escalating violence, the United States imposed sanctions on Israeli settlers involved in these attacks, freezing their financial assets and banning them from entering the U.S. The State Department emphasized the U.S.’s ongoing concern about extremist violence and instability in the West Bank, stating that such actions undermine Israel’s security.

Israeli settlements, primarily populated by Jewish Israeli citizens, are located on land that Israel has controlled since the 1967 Six-Day War. While these settlements are considered illegal under international law, Israel disputes this characterization. The controversial settler movement has gained influence over the years and is widely regarded by the international community as a significant barrier to peace in the region.