Settlers Attack Palestinians Plowing Their Land in the Southern West Bank - West Bank
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that a Palestinian was evacuated with a skull fracture after Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians plowing their land near the village of Arab al-Rashayida in the southern West Bank on Wednesday.
After Israelis entered private Palestinian land, clashes involving reciprocal stone-throwing erupted between the sides, the Israeli military said, adding that soldiers had then arrived.
"There'll be rainfall in a couple of days, and people want to plow the land to sow wheat," a local told Haaretz, adding they did so every year. According to him, around 20 settlers came down toward the plowers from an outpost near the Ma'aleh Yosef settlement, attempting to forcibly drive the Palestinians away as they neared the village's homes.
Residents of Arab al-Rashayida then confronted the settlers. "We went to protect our land and our rights," another resident said. "We tried to convince the settlers that this is our land; even Israel recognizes it."
"The army sided with the settlers," a local said. "They turn a blind eye to what they do. The army began shooting live ammunition at us. It was chaos. The whole village came out because of the shooting; there was also tear gas dispersed by the army."
Footage shows Palestinian residents confronting settlers while security forces are present, as clouds of tear gas fill the air. Shots can be heard. According to a resident, the settlers, who were the smaller group, eventually withdrew, and no arrests were made.
Eyewitnesses reported that later, Jewish settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Ma'aleh Amos, the only access route to Arab al-Rashayida.
Residents said a Palestinian woman was hit in the chest and knee by the stones while driving out of the village, sustaining minor wounds. Her vehicle then turned back.
"We asked an ambulance to come to Arab al-Rashayida to take her, but the settlers blocked its path," a resident said. "These settlers – they are from [Israel's] government. They have people in the Knesset. The situation is deteriorating here."
An IDF spokesperson said: "IDF forces deployed to the Arab al-Rashayida area in the Etzion Brigade following a report of Israeli civilians entering private Palestinian land. Clashes occurred in which stones were thrown between Palestinians and Israelis. IDF forces dispersed the confrontation, and no injuries were reported."
Recently, settler violence in the West Bank has surged, as reflected in both UN and Israel Defense Forces data.
Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir on Wednesday condemned the uptick in settler violence, attributing it to a "criminal minority tarnishing law-abiding public." He added that recent incidents constitute "crossing a red line" and are particularly severe because they "distract forces from their mission – protecting settlements and conducting offensive operations."
A source in the IDF Central Command also warned that the rise in nationalist crimes in the West Bank could escalate the overall security situation. The IDF said it is attempting to address the increase in violence, but lacks sufficient tools to fully tackle it, placing blame on the police.
However, the army ignores many settler attacks. When soldiers are involved in the attacks, it refers cases to the military police investigations unit. Soldiers sent to clashestold Haaretz that they are often dispatched after they end, and are told to disperse the people involved but not detain the attacking settlers.