Palestinians in the occupied West Bank say nowhere is safe after a wave of Israeli settler violence that’s been increasing since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel.

Jerusalem

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is 'at war' following a surprise attack from Gaza by Hamas militants.

Israel-Gaza War

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have reported a surge in violence by Israeli settlers, which has escalated since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel. The violence was starkly illustrated in the Palestinian village of Al-Mukhair, where residents experienced a brutal assault. According to Abdel Latif Abdualia, Israeli settlers, some armed with guns and others with rocks, besieged his house with the apparent acquiescence of the Israeli military, which did not intervene.

The violence in Al-Mukhair was reportedly set off by the disappearance of a 14-year-old Israeli settler, Benjamin Achimer, which led to a violent rampage by settlers even before the boy's body was found. During the attack, Jihad Abdualia, a 25-year-old resident of Al-Mukhair and cousin of Abdel Latif, was killed by a gunshot to the head, a tragic event that unfolded just two months before his planned wedding.

The local clinic, managed by Dr. Ayad Nassan, became a scene of chaos as victims of the violence were brought in with gunshot wounds. Dr. Nassan recounted how Israeli checkpoints hindered the injured from receiving timely medical help. Human Rights Watch has indicated that such settler violence has increased since the Hamas attack on Israeli communities, suggesting that it is condoned by Israel's government, with settlers feeling empowered to attack Palestinians.

One of the numerous victims, shepherd Imad Abdualia, reported that settlers not only set his barn on fire but also killed and stole his livestock, amounting to 120 animals. This incident underscores the broader impact of the violence, affecting the livelihoods of Palestinian families. Rights groups have pointed out that the theft of livestock and the construction of herding outposts are tactics employed by settlers to displace Palestinian families from their lands.

In response to inquiries about the incidents, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) provided a statement acknowledging the death of the 14-year-old as an act of terrorism but offered no further details. The IDF claimed that any complaints regarding soldiers' behavior are subject to examination, and that ambulances being delayed at checkpoints occurred as part of security checks. However, the Israel human rights group Yesh Din noted that over a 17-year period, 93% of investigations into settler attacks on Palestinians were closed without any charges being filed.



West Bank engulfed by wave of settler violence

A terrifying wave of Israeli settler violence has engulfed the West Bank. We've come to the Palestinian village of Al-Mukhair to witness the aftermath. The settlers besieged the house, Abdel Latif Abdualia told us, and the Israeli army helped them. The scenes from that day show masked Israeli settlers, some with guns, others throwing rocks and members of Israel's military present but seemingly not acting to stop the rampage. It was triggered after a 14-year-old Israeli settler, Benjamin Achimer, went missing after taking his sheep out to graze. The settler's mob rampaged even before his body was found. This blood-soaked pillow is where Abdualia tried to save the life of his cousin, Jihad Abdualia, who was killed after someone on the ground shot him in the head. The 25-year-old was due to be married in two months. You can see the bullets all over the walls. You can see how the blood spilled all over the place, he said. On duty at the local clinic that day was Dr. Ayad Nassan. People start bringing me like injuries, all kind of injuries, a gunshot in their feet, in their legs, in their knees, in their chest. He told us the security forces manning Israeli checkpoints obstructed the injured from reaching help. Since Hamas's attack on Israeli communities on October the 7th, settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has soared in attacks that Human Rights Watch says are condoned by Israel's government. So settlers know that they can get away with doing it. They are armed by the Israeli government. They are sometimes directly encouraged to carry out attacks and they're doing so in more and more areas that the Israeli government covets for settlements. Among the other victims of the violence was shepherd Imad Abdualia. He says they set his barn on fire before killing some sheep and stealing the rest. 120 animals in total. I want them back because I brought them up, he said. Do you ever replace your children? They're like my children. Rights groups say the theft of livestock and the construction of herding outposts is one of the new tactics settlers are using to deprive Palestinian families of an income and ultimately force many to abandon their land. And Chris, what is Israel's military saying about what happened in this case? Ian, in a statement the IDF told us the 14-year-old Israeli teen was killed in an act of terrorism but they didn't provide any more details. The IDF also said complaints about soldiers' behavior will be examined. Regarding ambulances being held up, the IDF said that happened for security checks. Israel Human Rights group Yesh Din says over a 17-year period, 93% of investigations against settlers who attacked Palestinians were closed without any charges. Ian. Chris Brown in Jerusalem.

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Israel-Gaza War