Israeli settlers target Palestinian villages in occupied West Bank, attacking people and properties

Settler Violence Escalates in West Bank Amid Calls for Retribution

Following the fatal incident involving 18-year-old settler Yehuda Sherman, a wave of attacks targeted Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank. The teenager was killed on Saturday after a Palestinian driver hit his vehicle while he was riding a quad bike. Israeli police are examining whether the collision was intentional or accidental.

Settler groups, utilizing WhatsApp networks, swiftly launched a campaign of vengeance, urging members to retaliate against the perceived loss. Over 20 incidents were reported overnight, per Israeli media sources. The escalation in violence coincides with the recent US-Israel strike on Iran, which the United Nations attributes to six Palestinian fatalities since March 1.

The Israel Defense Forces deployed troops and border police to several villages after receiving reports of civilian settlers engaging in arson and unrest. Among the affected areas were Jalud, Qaryut, al-Funduqmiya, and Silat al-Dhah. Footage shared online, though unverified, depicted over 90 individuals in black—many masked—storming Jalud. The clips showed burning vehicles, shattered windows, and ambulances responding to the chaos.

“Jews won’t remain silent over spilled Jewish blood,” one WhatsApp post read. Another declared: “We demand vengeance and expulsion of the enemy.”

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported at least three civilians with head injuries hospitalized after a confrontation in Jalud. Some attackers were also reportedly wounded. Meanwhile, Israeli police arrested five people near Deir al-Hatab and noted an officer’s injury during an assault on security forces near Itamar.

A Jewish settler-led protest disrupted roads in the West Bank on Sunday evening. Local agency WAFA reported unconfirmed sightings of settlers gathering outside Palestinian villages, with a car wash northwest of Nablus set ablaze. The EU and UK have urged Israel to curb the violence since the Iran conflict began on February 28.

According to the UN, seven Palestinians have been killed by settlers and 18 by Israeli forces this year, with 15 of these incidents occurring since the Iran war commenced. Yair Golan, head of Israel’s center-left Democrats, criticized the government, stating: “While we are fighting in Iran and on the northern border, under missile attacks and with many seriously wounded, this government is encouraging total anarchy. Jewish terrorism is spreading, exploiting the war, with the backing of extremist ministers and dangerous encouragement from the prime minister and the defense minister. This is a failure of responsibility for Israel’s security.”

Yesh Din, an Israeli civil rights organization, referred to the violence as “a night of pogroms,” noting that authorities failed to implement preventive measures despite prior warnings. Over 500 people attended Sherman’s funeral on Sunday, including far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who faces sanctions for inciting Palestinian-targeted aggression.