Extremist Israeli settlers carried out a series of attacks on Palestinian villages across the occupied West Bank, setting fire to homes, cars and agricultural land in a surge of violence that followed the death of an Israeli teenager.
The unrest began after 18-year-old settler Yehuda Sherman was killed on Saturday. Reports said he was struck by a vehicle driven by a Palestinian while riding a quad bike. Israeli police said they were still investigating whether the collision was intentional or an accident.
After news of his death spread, settler groups reportedly used WhatsApp channels to call for retaliation. Israeli media, citing a defence official, reported that more than 20 settler attacks took place overnight.
According to the United Nations, settler violence has increased sharply since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. Since 1 March, six Palestinians have reportedly been killed by settlers.
Villages Hit in Overnight Violence
The Israeli military said its forces and border police were sent to several Palestinian villages on Saturday night after reports that Israeli civilians were carrying out arson attacks on buildings and property, while also causing disturbances in the area.
Among the villages targeted were Jalud, Qaryut, al-Funduqmiya and Silat al-Dhah.
Videos shared online, though not independently verified, appeared to show dozens of people dressed in black, many with their faces covered, entering Jalud. Other footage said to be from the village showed burning vehicles, damaged buildings and ambulances responding to the scene. One image appeared to show the words “Avenge Yehuda” painted on a wall.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said at least three Palestinians suffered head injuries after confronting the attackers in Jalud. They were taken to hospital for treatment. Some settlers were also reportedly hurt.
Israeli media said messages in settler WhatsApp groups included calls for revenge and expulsion of Palestinians.
Palestinian and Israeli Reactions
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the assaults, saying they included the burning of homes and property, intimidation and killings of civilians, and attacks on roads and main junctions during Eid al-Fitr.
Israeli police said border guards arrested five people near Deir al-Hatab on Sunday. Authorities also said one officer was injured after Israeli civilians attacked security personnel near the Itamar settlement. Police said they were acting with zero tolerance towards extremist violence.
Israeli rights group Yesh Din described the attacks as “a night of pogroms” and said security forces had failed to act despite advance warning.
In a statement posted on X, the group said no proper preventive steps were taken and that authorities once again failed to prepare for the violence.
Political Tensions Deepen
Israeli media reported that more than 500 people attended Sherman’s funeral on Sunday, including far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has been sanctioned by the United Kingdom and other countries for inciting violence against Palestinians.
Later that day, settlers were reported to be blocking roads in the occupied West Bank in protest. There were also unconfirmed reports that more settler groups had gathered near Palestinian villages again. Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that settlers set fire to a car wash northwest of Nablus.
Earlier this month, the European Union and the United Kingdom called on Israel to stop the rise in settler violence against Palestinians since the Iran war began on 28 February.
According to the United Nations, seven Palestinians have been killed by Israeli settlers since the beginning of the year, while 18 others have been killed by Israeli forces. Fifteen of those deaths have occurred since the conflict involving Iran escalated.
Yair Golan, leader of Israel’s centre-left Democrats, condemned the latest attacks and accused the government of enabling disorder.
In a post on X, he said that while Israel was engaged in conflict with Iran and facing missile threats and casualties, the government was allowing complete breakdown and chaos. He also accused extremist ministers and senior leaders of encouraging settler violence.
Last week, after a separate incident, Israeli army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said settler violence in the West Bank was morally and ethically unacceptable.
Longstanding Settlement Dispute
Israel has built around 160 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since occupying the territories in the 1967 Middle East war. Around 700,000 Israeli settlers now live there alongside an estimated 3.3 million Palestinians.
Palestinians view the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza as the land for a future independent state.
The settlements are considered illegal under international law.