Israeli settlers rampage through West Bank village, sparking destruction
A violent rampage by a large group of armed Israeli settlers in a West Bank village resulted in tragic consequences, including loss of life, as reported by local and Palestinian officials. This disturbing incident, marked by the burning of cars and homes, stands out as one of the most severe attacks witnessed this year.
Israeli settlers stormed a village in the occupied West Bank, causing significant damage to homes and cars. Palestinian officials reported that this was one of the largest attacks by settlers this year.
In the village of Al-Mughayyir, located east of Ramallah, at least one Palestinian man was fatally shot during the attack. The head of the village council, Amin Abu-Alia, who is related to the deceased, confirmed this tragic incident.
About 25 people were hurt during the attack, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah. This incident was on a large scale, similar to when hundreds of settlers entered the villages of Turmusayya and Huwara last year.
The settlers were said to be searching for a missing Israeli teenager, according to information from Israeli security forces shared with Palestinian officials, as stated by Abu-Alia.
He estimated that between 1,000 and 1,200 settlers surrounded the village, and around 500 stormed it just after midday local time on Friday, blocking all the roads in the area.
The settlers attacked the village, raided homes, and fired guns at residents, he said. Videos obtained by CNN show parts of the village burning, with smoke billowing over several buildings and settlers lobbing rocks. Houses and cars are seen completely burned up, with sounds of gunfire and clashes heard in the background.
Israeli settlers wearing headscarves are seen near billowing smoke.
Israeli settlers wearing headscarves are seen near billowing smoke.
Abu-Alia claimed that the Israeli military showed up at the scene around 3 p.m. local time. However, instead of stopping the settlers from attacking the village, he said the soldiers let them raid homes. He also alleged that the Israeli soldiers restricted Palestinian residents from moving around and prevented ambulances from reaching the injured.
Abu-Alia informed CNN that around 70 sheep were taken by settlers from the Palestinian village.
In response to CNN's inquiry, the Israel Defense Forces stated that "violent riots broke out in various places in the area" after a search for the missing boy, and that Israeli forces attempted to remove the settlers.
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Security forces were called in to quell violent riots, where IDF soldiers were targeted with thrown rocks and responded with gunfire. In addition, efforts were made to evacuate Israeli civilians who had entered the town of Al Mughayyir.
11 ambulances from the Palestinian Red Crescent rushed to the site of the attack on Friday to help the injured. They reported that several people were hurt by bullet fragments.
Earlier in the day, IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari mentioned that IDF forces were searching for a missing 14-year-old. The teenager was last spotted near an Israeli settlement, approximately 2 kilometers away from Al-Mughayyir.
"Since early afternoon, IDF forces from the air and on the ground, including special forces, have been collaborating with the Israel Police and other forces in the search for a 14-year-old boy missing since this morning in the Malachei Ha’Shalom area in the Binyamin Brigade," as mentioned in a post on X.
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