Israeli forces set to deploy troops to West Bank as settler attacks continue

Israel’s army is set to deploy further troops to the occupied West Bank amid continued settler violence that has seen them loot property in Masafer Yatta, and three Palestinians wounded by Israeli fire south of Hebron.

The move was justified by Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir, who said that amid the upcoming Jewish holiday season, he is “ordering the elevation of readiness of an additional division headquarters in order to reinforce the forces in the area.”

“In addition, preparations must be made for the immediate deployment of units and battalions to reinforce the area," he added.

The troop deployment comes on the heels of a continued escalation in Israeli settler terrorism in the occupied West Bank, with settlers being filmed stealing belongings from a Palestinian home in the Masafer Yatta area, south of Hebron.

Footage from Wednesday showed settlers loading the belongings onto an ATV, which looks similar to the ones issued to settlers in illegal outposts by the government last year, and then driving off.

Israeli forces reportedly arrested a Palestinian who confronted the settlers after arriving at the scene.

In a separate incident near Jenin, settlers broke into a Palestinian home under construction, smashing tiles and stealing water and electricity motors.

Settler attacks in the occupied West Bank have increasingly drawn sharp condemnation from Western states, which have also condemned Israel’s expansion of illegal settlements.

Additional sanctions against illegal settlements are being pondered by the European Union, while the UK is drawing up plans to strengthen its own sanctions regime.

Meanwhile, two Palestinian women and a teenage girl were wounded by Israeli fire in the town of Al-Karmel on Wednesday evening, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa.

The incident occurred as Israeli forces were raiding the town, storming homes and turning them into military outposts, the outlet said.