Israeli settlers threaten Palestinians in West Bank with new 'Nakba'

By Awad al-Rujoub

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Israeli settlers on Thursday threatened Palestinians in the occupied West Bank with a new "Nakba," hinting at expelling them forcibly from their lands as happened in 1948.

According to the Palestinian Wafa news agency, the settlers posted leaflets on Palestinian farmers' vehicles on the outskirts of Deir Istiya village near Salfit province in the northern West Bank, demanding the farmers abandon their homes and villages and relocate to Jordan.

If they do not comply with the demand, the settlers will do it through violent attacks and forcibly evict them from their land, Wafa cited from one of the leaflets written in Arabic.

Commenting on the threats, the village's mayor, Firas Diyab, said the threats are clearly visible to all, urging people to remain vigilant.

The “Nakba or Catastrophe” is the event by which nearly 800,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their homes and lands in 1948 after the founding of Israel.

Tensions have been high across the West Bank since the fighting broke out on Oct. 7 between Palestinian groups and Israel in Gaza.

More than 100 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank since Oct. 7.

The conflict in Gaza began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood – a multi-pronged surprise attack on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 8,500 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,028 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara