Israeli Leaders Condemn Deadly Settler Rampage in West Bank

In a rare denunciation of settler violence, Israeli leaders roundly condemned a deadly rampage that took place in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The incident occurred in the village of Jit, near Nablus, and resulted in the death of one Palestinian along with several others being badly injured, according to Palestinian health officials. Eyewitnesses reported that around a hundred masked settlers entered the village, shooting live ammunition, burning homes and cars, and damaging water tankers. Shocking video footage depicted the village engulfed in flames as residents claimed they were left without military assistance for two hours.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he took the riots "seriously" and emphasized that those involved in criminal acts would be prosecuted. He explicitly called upon settlers to refrain from taking matters into their own hands, highlighting that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and other security forces were responsible for combating terrorism. President Isaac Herzog also condemned the attack, joined by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who characterized the settlers who carried out the violence as "attacking innocent people," adding that they did not represent the values of the settler communities.

The attack in Jit comes at a time when Israel is facing heightened international scrutiny due to its role in ceasefire negotiations mediated by the US, Qatar, and Egypt in Doha - attempts to broker an end to the 10-month-long Israel-Hamas conflict. The United States has broadly condemned settler violence and Israel's expansion of settlements in the West Bank, with Ambassador Jack Lew expressing dismay at the attack and the White House National Security Council labeling violent settler attacks as "unacceptable." The US has called on Israeli authorities to take measures to protect all communities and hold perpetrators of violence accountable.

The incident in Jit has raised questions about the Israeli government's response to settler violence, as similar attacks in the past have not garnered comparable attention from Israeli authorities. The West Bank, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, is a contentious territory sought by Palestinians as the heartland of their future state, a position supported by the international community. Activist groups assert that arrests and prosecutions for settler violence are rare, with statistics from Israeli police indicating that charges are pressed in only 3.8% of such cases.

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, known for his support of settlement expansion, distanced himself from the Jit attackers, labeling them criminals who were not representative of the settlement enterprise. He emphasized that settlements were being developed legally and officially. Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, an ultra-Orthodox Israeli, called on Israel's internal security agency to investigate the individuals involved, stating that the riot contradicted Jewish values and harmed the settlement enterprise.

Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, violence has escalated in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian health officials report that Israeli fire has resulted in the deaths of 633 Palestinians, including 147 children and teenagers, with over 5,400 injuries. At the same time, settlers have killed at least 11 Palestinians and injured 234 individuals, according to the aid organization AIDA. The United Nations has documented over 1,000 settler attacks in the West Bank since the war began, averaging four attacks per day, double the previous year's average.

Sufian Jit, a resident of the village, described the chaos that unfolded as a group of around 100 settlers descended upon the village, setting cars on fire, puncturing water tankers, and destroying homes. Desperate for help, villagers called the army and firefighters, but received no immediate assistance. Faced with the threat of spreading fires, residents took matters into their own hands and bravely fought to extinguish the flames. It was only after two hours that soldiers finally arrived on the scene.

Late Thursday, the Israeli military announced the arrest of one Israeli civilian in connection with the violence and initiated an investigation. The police, in collaboration with the Shin Bet security agency and the military, are working to bring the responsible individuals to justice. Mourners have gathered for the funeral of Rasheed Mahmoud abed Al Khadier Sadah, the young Palestinian who lost his life during the attack on Jit. Ibrahim Sadah, a relative of the deceased, expressed the residents' frustration at not being able to defend their village effectively, as settlers began firing live ammunition.

The Jit attack serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing tensions and violence plaguing the West Bank. It highlights the urgent need for effective measures to protect all communities and ensure that those who perpetrate acts of violence are held accountable for their actions.