Israeli settlers injure Palestinians in West Bank attacks

The occupied West Bank saw a wave of Israeli settler attacks on Friday, resulting in a number of injuries among Palestinians and the burning of property.

A group of extremist settlers attacked the town of Al-Mazra'a al-Sharqiya and opened fire on civilians, wounding at least three Palestinians who were rushed to a hospital in the nearby Ramallah.

Settlers also attacked the town of Atara, setting two vehicles on fire. They also set fire to a house, causing material damage, with locals saying that racist slogans were written on the town’s walls.

A day earlier on Thursday, settlers re-erected tents near Atara which the Israeli army had previously removed four times, according to reports.

Israeli forces also stormed the town of Qalqilya on Friday, arresting five women.

In the Bethlehem district, troops raided the village of Al-Asakra and searched one home, but no arrests were reported.

The town of Yatta saw the arrests of three men after their homes were raided.

There has been a surge in Israeli military and settler violence across the West Bank since the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023, which has seen killings and demolitions of people's homes.

The operations have seen the mass displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Last month, Israel’s parliament passed a symbolic resolution in favour of annexing the West Bank, which, along with East Jerusalem, has remained under Israeli occupation since the 1967 war.

Hardline Israeli officials continue to call for full annexation and expansion of settlements, in clear violation of international law.