Extremist Jewish settlers set up illegal outpost in WB, as security forces shoot, kill Palestinian

Extremist Jewish settlers have launched a string of attacks and ambushes against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank after setting up an illegal outpost near Ramallah, a day before Israeli security forces shot and killed a Palestinian man near Jerusalem.

Settlers have used pepper spray and arson to harass Palestinian residents of the village of Jaba’a, southeast of Ramallah, since February, according to reports in Israeli media.

The most recent attack saw Israeli settlers torch a home. Videos circulating online showed settlers throwing objects into a house before fire engulfs the building.

A local resident who spoke to Haaretz said that the settlers regularly "cause trouble", harassing people in their homes, including children and the elderly.

The resident added that settlers burn tyres on a weekly basis and steal from homes.

Reports state that the Israeli army has not removed the illegal outposts as they must first seek authorisation from the far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who himself encourages settlements and the annexation of Palestinian land.

The constant attacks have left Palestinians afraid to call the police, as it often ends with the outposts being rebuilt and Palestinians being arrested for throwing stones at the settlers.

Meanwhile, local Palestinian media reported on Monday that Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man after he tried to cross the separation wall into Israel for work.

In recent days, several Palestinians have been shot trying to cross the barrier, which activists have called an "apartheid wall".

Israeli forces did not comment on the killing.

Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, Israeli authorities have heavily restricted work permits, preventing Palestinians working inside Israel and removing a vital source of income for many families.

Palestinians have decried the restrictions as a form of collective punishment.

In the occupied West Bank, opportunities for work are limited due to the much smaller economy and poor wages.

The surge in arrests and killings of Palestinians in the West Bank comes just days after Israeli forces sealed off the entrances to the city of Tulkarem and carried out mass arrests.

Footage showed soldiers marching rows of Palestinians through the streets before they were taken to an unknown location. The city’s governor, Abdullah Kamil, called on the international community to act against what he called "crimes" being committed against Palestinians.

Meanwhile, Israel has killed at least 64,905 Palestinians in Gaza since 7 October 2023, while thousands of others have been forcibly disappeared and taken to unknown locations. Over 18,000 Palestinians have been arrested in the occupied West Bank over the period, with rights groups raising the alarm over inhumane conditions in Israeli prisons, the use of torture, and a lack of proper legal proceedings.