Escalation of Settlers in the West Bank: Attacks on Palestinians and Their Properties Amid Fears of New Displacement

SadaNews - Various areas in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley have witnessed an escalation in settlers' attacks on Palestinians and their properties since Thursday morning, manifested in gunfire, destruction of agricultural crops, burning of properties, and land destruction, in addition to throwing stones at Palestinian vehicles on main roads, all under the protection of Israeli occupation forces.

In the northeast of Tubas, a number of Palestinians were injured during an attack carried out by settlers in the Safah Tayseer area, where some were transferred to the hospital for treatment, amid the recurrence of attacks in the region recently.

Also, a settler fired live ammunition towards a vehicle in Beit Jala west of Bethlehem, causing damage to the vehicle without any injuries reported among the passengers.

In a related context, four Palestinians were injured due to another assault in Wadi Tayseer, while confrontations occurred in the town of Amrin northwest of Nablus with occupation forces, resulting in six Palestinians being wounded, including one with rubber-coated metal bullets.

Alongside the assaults, settlers have intensified their settlement activities by erecting tents and new outposts in several areas, including Aynoun near Tubas, Khillet al-Luz southeast of Bethlehem, in addition to lands in the town of Amrin.

They also placed a mobile home "caravan" and facilities for livestock near Palestinian residences in Wadi Tayseer, a move that raises fears of transforming these sites into permanent settlement outposts.

Specialists noted that these movements are part of plans to expand settlements, including the construction of bypass roads linking settlements around Bethlehem, which threatens to isolate the city from its southern countryside.

Settlers have also brought herds of livestock to the targeted areas and grazed them on Palestinian lands, increasing pressures on the local population, especially in areas that have previously witnessed family displacements due to repeated assaults.