1 Palestinian dead as settlers embark on West Bank rampage following terror attack
'Awful scenes in the West Bank today, with innocent Palestinians attacked by settlers, their property destroyed, and one person shot dead,' UK's ambassador to Israel said.
UK’s ambassador to Israel, Neil Wigan, condemned “awful scenes” in the West Bank where “innocent Palestinians” were attacked by Jewish settlers.
One Palestinian was killed and three injured on Wednesday as hundreds of settlers continued a revenge rampage against Palestinians in the West Bank for the second day in a row, following a deadly Palestinian terror attack.
Awful scenes in the West Bank today, with innocent Palestinians attacked by settlers, their property destroyed, and one person shot dead. I hope that calm is restored quickly, and that those responsible for violence are held to account.
— Neil Wigan (@FCDONeilWigan) June 21, 2023
An estimated 300 settlers took part in an attack on the Palestinian town of Turmus Ayya, setting fire to over 60 cars and 30 homes.
The revenge campaign began on Tuesday night, just hours after two Hamas members shot and killed four Israelis near the settlement of Eli.
Several cars, including an ambulance, were set on fire in Palestinian villages near the city of Nablus on Tuesday evening. Three settlers were arrested following the attacks.
— Local Focus – Security Alerts (@LocalFocus1) June 21, 2023
34 Palestinians were injured in sporadic attacks in the area of Nablus by settlers throwing stones at cars and physically attacking residents, including a 12-year-old boy, according to Palestinian media. Stores and private property were also vandalised.
NOW: Dozens of settlers attacking homes in the village of Al Luban Al Sharqiya in the Northern west bank.
Photos: local activists pic.twitter.com/I9v15eoUb2
— Yesh Din English (@Yesh_Din) June 20, 2023
The revenge attacks came just three months after some 400 settlers carried out what the IDF described as a “pogrom” in the Palestinian town of Huwara, which was also a reaction to a Palestinian terror attack in the West Bank that left two Israeli brothers killed.
Following the deadly terror attack near the settlement of Eli, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called on Prime Minister Netanyahu to launch a military operation the West Bank and to “return to targeted assassinations from the air, to bring down buildings, to erect roadblocks, to expel terrorists, and to finish passing the death penalty for terrorists law.”
Last night dozens of settlers attacked the villages of A Luban a-Sharqia, Qablan, Huwwara, Baytin, and at several junctions. Reported damage so far: 9 homes, a gas station & several businesses destroyed, 11 cars & tens of dunams of agricultural lands burned, several injuries. pic.twitter.com/8fQ685t7wr
— Yesh Din English (@Yesh_Din) June 21, 2023
Likud MK Tally Gotliv, meanwhile, demanded nothing short of a collective punishment of Palestinians.
“Killing terrorists isn’t enough. It’s heroic and brave, no question, but it’s not enough. The terrorists aren’t working alone. They only understand power! I am uncompromisingly right-wing. Wherever a terrorist comes from, the whole place needs to pay. Collective punishment. Only like that! I’ve had enough of a country that worships momentary quiet,” Gotliv said.
Following the widespread attacks on Palestinian towns, hundreds of settlers marched to the abandoned and illegal settlement outpost of Evyatar in the West Bank, demanding that the government re-establish a settlement there in response to the terror attack.
The outpost is illegal according to Israeli law, and the army has declared it a military zone, forbidding settlers from entering it.
Several leading figures in the settlement movement joined the march to Evyatar overnight, including Religious Zionism lawmaker Zvi Sukkot.
“We’ve returned home to Evyatar. Terrorists should know that any attack will only deepen the Jewish hold on the territory. Two years after being evacuated, the time has come for us to return forever,” Sukkot said.
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