Israeli army and settlers raid several villages in central West Bank

At least 11 villages and towns in the Ramallah governorate came under attack on Saturday, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, as Israeli soldiers and settler groups moved through central parts of the West Bank. Some of the settlers were protected by Israeli forces.

In Al Mugayir, northeast of Ramallah, settlers entered Palestinian land with their livestock, local council head Amin Abu Aliya told Wafa. Israeli troops then entered the village and fired tear gas toward homes, near a house where residents were mourning two young men killed on Wednesday in another attack involving settlers and soldiers. No injuries were reported in the latest incident.

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They must be warned that there will be severe consequences

In Burqa, east of Ramallah, settlers damaged crops and olive trees, local council head Sayel Kanaan said. Later in the evening, Israeli forces raided Arura, Abwein, Jaljulia, Ajul, Ein Arik, Kafr Ni'ma, Bil'in and Khirbet Bani Harith, according to security and local sources cited by Wafa. The report said no arrests took place.

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small group of looters

The incidents unfolded as U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee visited Turmusaya, where he met Palestinian residents with U.S. citizenship who had been affected by settler violence. Two Israeli settlers entered the town on a motorcycle, about 100 meters from the ambassador's location.

Huckabee described the violence as terrorism and urged Israel to ensure the safety of Palestinians in the West Bank. “They must be warned that there will be severe consequences,” he said, assigning Benjamin Netanyahu's government responsibility for protecting affected Palestinians. He added that only a few hundred people, whom he called a “small group of looters,” were responsible for the “criminal and terrorist behavior” Palestinians in the West Bank face almost daily.

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criminal and terrorist behavior