Israeli Settlers Launch Arson Attack On Occupied West Bank

Dozens of masked Israeli settlers attacked a factory and warehouses in the northern West Bank on Tuesday, in what witnesses described as one of the most violent assaults in months. The raid targeted an industrial site west of Nablus, where masked settlers set fire to vehicles and warehouses and assaulted Palestinian workers. Local officials said the attack occurred in an organized manner under the protection of Israeli forces, who did not intervene to stop it. The incident is part of a sharp increase in settler violence across the West Bank. The UN's humanitarian office (OCHA) reported that October saw the highest number of settler attacks in nearly 20 years, with over 260 incidents. Since the start of the year, some 1,500 settler attacks have been recorded. According to the Wall and Settlement Affairs Authority, settlers have killed 36 Palestinians and set nearly 700 fires since October 2023. The violence comes during the olive harvest season, when Palestinian farmers are particularly vulnerable to attacks on their agricultural lands. OCHA has documented numerous incidents resulting in injuries and widespread damage to olive trees. The Israeli military said troops intervened to "disperse the confrontation" and apprehended several Israelis, while police confirmed four arrests. The military added that settlers later attacked its soldiers and damaged a military vehicle. International law considers all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank to be illegal. Read the best of our journalism: https://www.thetimes.com/ Subscribe to The Times and The Sunday Times YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_... Find us on Facebook:   / timesandsundaytimes   Find us on X: https://x.com/thetimes Find us on Instagram:   / thetimes   #israel #westbank #palestine