Edith Hejberg
The demolition of illegal outpost buildings near Metzad, also known as Asfar, sparked earlier clashes between settlers and Israeli security forces.
Israeli settlers launched a violent attack on the Palestinian village of Jab’a in the occupied West Bank on Monday, setting fire to homes and vehicles after Israeli authorities dismantled an illegal settler outpost nearby.
The attack, captured on camera, has drawn widespread condemnation.
Homes and vehicles burned in late-night assault
Videos geolocated by CNN show flames engulfing vehicles and a building in Jab’a, a village roughly 15 kilometers southwest of Bethlehem. The footage, taken late Monday, shows villagers scrambling to douse the fires as chaos unfolded around them.
Masked attackers caught on surveillance footage
Security footage from Jab’a captured dozens of masked men storming a Palestinian home and setting cars on fire. Local leaders said three homes, still occupied at the time, and three vehicles were targeted in the coordinated attack.
Villagers escape injury, but face major property losses
Diab Masha’leh, head of the village council, told the Palestinian news agency Wafa that residents managed to put out the fires without any reported injuries. However, he confirmed that the attack caused “severe material damage” to homes and vehicles.
Netanyahu breaks silence to condemn settler violence
In a rare move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence, calling it the work of “a small, extremist group that does not represent the settlers.” He pledged to personally address what he called a “serious phenomenon.”
IDF: settlers retaliated after illegal structures were removed
According to the Israel Defense Forces, the violence broke out after Israeli authorities demolished several illegal settler structures near the village. “Dozens of Israeli civilians set fire and vandalized homes and vehicles,” the IDF confirmed in a statement.
Security forces search for suspects as tensions remain high
Israeli forces launched a search for those involved in the attacks, though officials noted the incident was “still ongoing.” The search operation was part of broader efforts to restore order after the settler rampage in Jab’a.
Earlier clashes near Metzad trigger wider unrest
The demolition of illegal outpost buildings near Metzad, also known as Asfar, sparked earlier clashes between settlers and Israeli security forces. These outposts are considered illegal under both international and Israeli law.
Hilltop Youth clash with forces during demolition
Violent confrontations erupted as settlers, including members of the far-right Hilltop Youth, clashed with security personnel. Protesters hurled stones and iron rods, set fires, and barricaded themselves inside illegal structures.
Police and military officers injured in the violence
Several Israeli Border Police officers and soldiers were injured during the riots, according to a joint statement by the Israeli military and police. Six people were arrested in connection with the unrest at Metzad.
IDF denounces violence as a threat to security
The IDF issued a strong condemnation of the settler violence, stating that such incidents harm the region’s security and divert critical military resources. “Violent incidents distract soldiers from defense and counterterrorism missions,” the IDF warned.
Defense minister vows crackdown on ‘lawbreakers’
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz voiced support for security forces and warned that violence would not be tolerated. He called the attackers a “small, violent, criminal group of anarchistic lawbreakers” attempting to tarnish the image of the settler population.
Tensions flare amid rising settler-Palestinian violence
This latest attack is part of a broader surge in settler violence in the West Bank. As security forces struggle to contain both settler and Palestinian unrest, the region remains on edge amid fears of further escalation.
This article is made and published by Edith Hejberg, who may have used AI in the preparation
