Palestinians bury four killed in West Bank clash with Israeli settlers

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank village of Tell on Saturday buried four men killed during a clash with Israeli settlers the previous day. Violence in the West Bank has surged since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and the clash in Tell has already had political repercussions.

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Families of the four martyrs held a common funeral early this morning ... but the army restricted who could attend and only about 30 people were able to be there.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Friday that he would allow the establishment of more settlements in the region following the deaths of two Israelis in the village. Israel will also conduct more raids in Palestinian villages suspected of hosting militants and accelerate the legalization of farm outposts and the establishment of new ones. All Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law, while outposts are small settlements usually established without government approval.

Walid Zidan, head of the Tell village council, told AFP that families of the four men, referred to as martyrs, held a funeral early Saturday, but the army restricted attendance to about 30 people. On Friday, about 20 Israelis from a nearby settlement entered the village and clashed with residents. A Palestinian villager seized an Israeli's weapon and shot one settler dead. An Israeli military response team then arrived, leading to more gunfire that killed four Palestinians and a second Israeli, according to the Israeli military.

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I am in my own home, and someone comes and assaults me. Under what law? Under what moral or legal authority? I am in my own home, on my own land. By what right do you, as settlers, come here?

Israeli forces closed gates and checkpoints throughout the West Bank, severely obstructing movement. Troops patrolled Tell, and residents offered condolences to the families of the four men killed. A group of settlers was seen alongside soldiers at a house under construction in the village. By the time of the funeral, movement was still restricted for villagers. Zidan said the military detained 51 residents for questioning, releasing only six. "Every person who was brought in was assigned a number, which was written on their forehead," said Saif Hamza, who was released after questioning. Zidan expressed disbelief, asking, "I am in my own home, and someone comes and assaults me. Under what law? Under what moral or legal authority? I am in my own home, on my own land. By what right do you, as settlers, come here?"

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Every person who was brought in was assigned a number, which was written on their forehead.