RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) – At least 10 Palestinians were injured on Sunday night during aggressive actions by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. This turmoil occurred after a funeral was held for Yehuda Sherman, an 18-year-old Israeli settler who died in a car crash the night before. The attacks were reported in multiple villages nearby, particularly in Deir al-Hatab, close to the Israeli settlement of Elon Moreh and Nablus.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported injuries among the wounded, including a 45-year-old man shot in the foot and a woman suffering from smoke inhalation. Video footage captured by the Associated Press showed extensive property damage, including vehicles and homes set ablaze while Israeli army flares illuminated the sky in the surrounding area.
These violent confrontations in four villages surrounding Nablus followed a series of attacks reported overnight in at least six communities, as noted by the Palestinian news agency WAFA. The unrest is part of an ongoing cycle of violence in the region. The latest spate of violence coincided with the funeral for Sherman, who was reportedly killed in a collision with a Palestinian vehicle in a northern area. Authorities are investigating the settlers' claims that this incident was intentional.
As Israel’s government continues to advance new settlements in the occupied West Bank, attacks from settlers—characterized by arson, shootings, and physical assaults—have escalated, especially with a shift in global attention due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the head of Israel’s military, condemned such settler violence last week, stating that it is particularly unacceptable during wartime for the military "to confront a threatening minority from within."
WAFA reported additional incidents of violence that occurred in the villages of Silat al Dahr and Fandaqumiya near Jenin, as well as Jalud and Salfit south of Nablus. Homes and vehicles were set on fire, and five individuals were reported injured during the assaults that coincided with the Eid al-Fitr holiday, marking the end of Ramadan.
In a response to the escalating violence, Israeli security forces detained five Israeli civilians during the chaos on Sunday night and confiscated some weapons, making attempts to restore order amid confrontations from both Israeli civilians and Palestinian locals. As a result of these clashes, a number of Palestinians were also reported injured.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs revealed that 25 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli settlers and soldiers from the start of the year until March 15, exacerbating the already tense situations in the occupied territories.
Separately, on the same day, four Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. Reports from local hospital authorities indicated that one of the strikes targeted a vehicle in the Nuseirat refugee camp and resulted in the deaths of three police officers. An additional fatality was recorded in Gaza City, contributing to the increasing death toll among Palestinians since a ceasefire agreement was reached in October aimed at ceasing ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
Although the most intense combat has declined, the ceasefire has not halted regular Israeli military operations. Continuing airstrikes and daily fire from Israeli forces have resulted in the deaths of over 670 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. The Israeli military has yet to comment on the airstrikes conducted on Sunday but has previously asserted that it would respond to any violations of the ceasefire that pose a threat to its soldiers.
