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Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian village in the West Bank on Saturday night, setting multiple structures ablaze in an incident captured on security cameras. The footage, obtained by The Associated Press, shows armed individuals dressed in black moving freely through the village of Khirbet al-Sidra as buildings burn and screams and gunfire echo in the background.
According to the Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem governate, which monitors Palestinian affairs in the region, the attack resulted in eight homes and at least two cars being destroyed. The Israeli military reported finding an Israeli vehicle containing clubs at the scene and confirmed that Palestinians, Israelis, and foreign nationals were injured in the confrontation. Despite the military’s statement that troops were searching the area to make arrests, no detentions had been reported as of Sunday afternoon.
This incident represents the latest in a concerning pattern of escalating settler violence in the occupied West Bank. Approximately 500,000 Israelis have established settlements in the territory since Israel captured it, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, during the 1967 Mideast war. The international community largely considers these settlements illegal and a significant obstacle to peace efforts.
While Israeli officials have characterized such violence as the actions of a radical minority, critics note that Israel’s far-right government, which includes prominent settler advocates, has done little to curb these attacks. Palestinians seek the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and Gaza for a future state, making settler violence a particularly sensitive issue in the ongoing conflict.
In a separate development, four more countries—Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, and Pakistan—announced on Sunday that they had received invitations to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. They join Albania, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina, and Turkey, who previously confirmed their invitations to the international body.
Initially conceived as a mechanism to oversee the Gaza ceasefire plan, the Board of Peace appears to be evolving into an organization with broader ambitions that could potentially rival the United Nations in addressing global crises. In letters sent Friday to various world leaders, Trump described the initiative as “a bold new approach to resolving global conflict.”
While the official membership list remains unannounced, a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity revealed that countries can secure permanent membership with a $1 billion contribution, rather than accepting a standard three-year appointment. The official clarified that this funding would be directed toward rebuilding Gaza, though joining the board does not require a financial contribution.
Meanwhile, tension between Israel and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) continues to escalate. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen announced Sunday on social media platform X that he had issued formal notices to disconnect water and electricity from UNRWA facilities, a move the UN agency warned could take effect within two weeks.
This action follows legislation passed by Israel’s parliament in December authorizing the cutting of utility supplies to UNRWA installations. The agency has already faced significant restrictions, with many of its services in east Jerusalem closed, though it continues to operate a vocational training center in the area.
UNRWA provides essential aid and services—including healthcare and education—to approximately 2.5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, and east Jerusalem, plus an additional 3 million in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. Earlier in the year, Israel banned the agency from operating on its territory, following allegations that UNRWA is infiltrated by Hamas—claims the agency firmly denies.
The combined pressures of settler violence, diplomatic realignments, and institutional challenges to humanitarian organizations underscore the complex and volatile nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as it continues to evolve amid regional tensions and international diplomatic efforts.
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18 Comments
The video footage is deeply disturbing and highlights the urgent need for the international community to take action to address the ongoing violence and rights violations in the occupied West Bank. Settler attacks on Palestinian communities must be condemned and the perpetrators held accountable.
It’s crucial that the Israeli authorities investigate this incident thoroughly and take concrete steps to protect Palestinian civilians and their property. The expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories remains a major obstacle to a just and lasting peace.
The video footage is deeply distressing and highlights the vulnerability of Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank. Settler violence and the expansion of Israeli settlements are major obstacles to achieving a lasting peace in the region.
It’s crucial that the international community continues to pressure the Israeli government to address this issue and take concrete steps to protect Palestinian civilians and their property.
The growing number of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories continues to be a major obstacle to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This attack highlights the urgent need for a just and lasting peace agreement that addresses the root causes of the conflict.
I hope the international community will increase pressure on Israel to halt the expansion of settlements and protect the rights of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
This incident is a tragic example of the ongoing tensions and conflicts in the occupied West Bank. The lack of arrests so far is concerning and raises questions about the willingness of the Israeli authorities to hold perpetrators accountable.
Ultimately, a just and sustainable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will require a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of the conflict and upholds the rights and dignity of all people in the region.
This incident is a tragic example of the ongoing tensions and conflicts in the occupied West Bank. The video footage is deeply concerning and highlights the vulnerability of Palestinian communities to settler violence and the need for accountability.
The international community must continue to press the Israeli government to address this issue and take concrete steps to protect Palestinian civilians and their property. A just and sustainable resolution to the conflict will require a comprehensive approach that upholds the rights and dignity of all people in the region.
This attack is part of a broader pattern of escalating settler violence in the occupied West Bank. The international community must continue to condemn such actions and press for an end to the occupation and a just peace agreement.
The lack of arrests so far is concerning and raises questions about the willingness of the Israeli authorities to hold settlers accountable for their actions. Stronger measures are needed to protect Palestinian civilians.
While the details of this specific incident are still unfolding, the broader pattern of escalating settler violence in the West Bank is deeply concerning. The international community must remain vigilant and continue to condemn such attacks on Palestinian civilians.
Ultimately, a just and durable peace can only be achieved through meaningful dialogue and a commitment to upholding the human rights of all people in the region.
The video footage is disturbing and highlights the vulnerability of Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank. Settler violence and the expansion of Israeli settlements threaten to undermine any progress towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
It’s crucial that the Israeli authorities take immediate action to investigate this incident, hold the perpetrators accountable, and protect Palestinian civilians from further attacks.
This is a concerning incident of escalating settler violence in the occupied West Bank. The video footage is deeply troubling, showing armed individuals freely moving through a Palestinian village and setting structures ablaze. Attacks like these only serve to heighten tensions and undermine prospects for peace in the region.
The lack of arrests so far is also troubling. The Israeli military must take decisive action to hold the perpetrators accountable and protect Palestinian civilians.