Dangerous escalation: settlers attack Palestinian towns in the West Bank

Over the past 24 hours, settler militias, protected by occupation forces, continued their attacks on citizens and their property in the West Bank. The attacks included the theft of more than 100 sheep and a vehicle in Bethlehem, the establishment of new outposts in Hebron, and raids and vandalism in Nablus, Ramallah, and the Jordan Valley, amid a notable rise in the pace of attacks.

Over the past 24 hours, settler militias, protected by Israeli occupation forces, continued their attacks on citizens and their property in various parts of the occupied West Bank, amid a notable escalation in the pace of attacks and attempts to seize land and establish new outposts. In Bethlehem, settlers stole more than 100 sheep and a vehicle, and smashed another vehicle and a solar energy system, after attacking a home and farm belonging to the Jabarin family in the Jabal al-Qarn area of al-Minya town, east of the city. The attack came after occupation forces detained family members and took them to an unknown location, according to local sources. In Hebron, settlers began establishing a new pastoral outpost near Khirbat Adiqa, south of the governorate, while expanding an outpost near the Ma'azi Jab'a Bedouin community north of Jerusalem. In Nablus, settlers attacked the town of Qusra, southeast of the city, vandalized property, cut roads, and besieged a home, and tore up Qurans during a raid on a home and vandalized its contents in the town of Beita to the south. Settlers also raided the village of Urta, southeast of Nablus, with their vehicles, while bringing their families to live in the home of the Tubasi family in the village of Jalud, after seizing it and expelling its owners following a weeks-long siege. In Hebron, settlers raided citizens' lands in the village of al-Burj in Dura town to the south, and Wadi Khneis west of Sa'ir town, north of the governorate. In Ramallah, settlers attacked the Abu Faza homes east of al-Tayba town, and set fire to the Sahl area belonging to the eastern farm lands, adjacent to the main road near Sinjil town, north of the city. In the northern Jordan Valley, settlers, protected by occupation forces, harassed Palestinian shepherds in Khirbat al-Hadidiya, while others raided Khirbat Samra and conducted provocative tours in the area. In Qalqilya, settlers threw stones at citizens' vehicles and young men at the entrance to Kafr Laqif town, east of the city. In Jenin, settlers raided the site of the 'Kadim' settlement adjacent to the eastern neighborhood of the city, protected by occupation forces, in preparation for its reopening, and raised occupation flags along the bypass road north of Jenin. These attacks come amid an escalation of settler attacks against Palestinians, their property, and their lands in various West Bank governorates, with protection and support from occupation forces.