Illegal Israeli settlers burn homes and vehicles of residents in the West Bank

Ramallah (ANTARA) - Illegal Israeli settlers burned homes and vehicles belonging to Palestinian residents on Tuesday (April 24) evening in the village of Susya, south of Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, as part of a series of attacks during Ramadan.

The Al-Baidar Human Rights Organization said the settlers burned five homes and a number of vehicles.

According to the organization, the settlers raided the village, causing extensive damage to property and spreading fear among residents, especially women and children.

The illegal settlers also fired tear gas canisters into several homes, causing four people to suffer from breathing difficulties due to inhaling the gas, local sources told Anadolu.

Residents in the Masafer Yatta area, where the village is located, frequently face repeated attacks from settlers, including home raids and grazing livestock on land owned by Palestinians. Residents have repeatedly called for protection and an end to settler violence.

Attacks by Israeli soldiers and illegal settlers in the West Bank have increased since the start of the attacks on the Gaza Strip in October 2023. According to Palestinian data, more than 1,116 Palestinians have been killed, 11,500 injured, and 22,000 arrested since then.

Palestinians warn that the escalation of violence aims to pave the way for Israel’s formal annexation of the West Bank, which would effectively end the prospect of establishing a Palestinian state as set out in United Nations (UN) resolutions.

The international community and the UN consider the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to be occupied Palestinian territory, and view Israeli settlements in the area as illegal under international law.

The International Court of Justice in July 2024 issued an important opinion stating that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal and demands the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Source: Anadolu