RAMALLAH: At least Five Palestinians were injured in an attack by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, including two who sustained gunshot wounds, Palestinian officials reported Saturday. The incident occurred in Rashayda, near the village of Kisan, east of Bethlehem.
According to Musa Abayat, the local mayor, two of the injured were hospitalised for gunshot wounds, while three others were assaulted with stones or sharp objects. Abayat also reported that the attackers stole around 100 sheep, calling the incident part of “daily attacks” by settlers in the area.
The Israeli military described the situation as a “violent confrontation” involving Israeli civilians firing toward Palestinians. An Israeli civilian was reportedly injured and taken to a hospital for treatment. Two Palestinians were evacuated by the Red Crescent for medical care.
Israeli police have detained two Israeli civilians involved in the shooting, as well as three Palestinians in connection with the incident.
The attack is part of a recent surge in settler violence across the West Bank. Palestinian authorities and the United Nations report at least five Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of March.
Overall, violence in the West Bank has escalated sharply since the war between Israel and Hamas started on October 7, 2023.
Since the start of the Gaza war, Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 1,045 Palestinians.
