UPDATE - Illegal Israeli settlers resume attacks on Palestinian towns in occupied West Bank

CHANGES HEADLINE, UPDATES WITH CASUALTIES, ADDS STATEMENT

By Anadolu staff

ISTANBUL (AA) – Illegal Israeli settlers on Saturday resumed their attacks on Palestinian villages and towns in the West Bank, injuring several Palestinians.

“The terrorist gangs of colonialists with the protection of the (Israeli) occupation army are closing the bridge of the village of Deir Dibwan, east of Ramallah,” the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said in a brief statement.

It indicated that settlers also stormed the village of Duma east of Nablus in the northern West Bank.

The head of the Duma Village Council, Sulaiman Dawabsha, told Anadolu that “dozens of settlers stormed the village accompanied by the Israeli army.”

“Duma is always a war zone and a military barracks for the occupation army and settlers,” the official said.

"The occupation forces deployed snipers on the roofs of houses shooting everyone who moves and firing tear gas bombs,” he added.

“Houses are being burned, there are direct casualties, and there is no ambulance to transport the injured,” Dawabsha said, adding that “so far there are four casualties while seven houses were burned and the number is increasing, in addition to a large number of cars being burned.”

- Army supporting illegal settlers

He stressed that "more than 50 settlers are wandering around the neighborhoods of the village, and the army is supporting them."

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said in a statement that “the (Israeli) occupation forces and settlers prevent ambulances from entering the town of Duma to reach the wounded.”

Meanwhile, the Palestinian official news agency Wafa reported that: “Six citizens were injured by live bullets in an attack launched by colonists on the village of Al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah.”

One Palestinian sustained a serious injury to the head, it added.

“Colonists also opened fire on the funeral of the martyr Jihad Afif Abu Alia, 25, who was killed yesterday (Friday) in an attack by colonists on the village,” it said, adding that no casualties were reported.

“Other colonists attacked citizens' vehicles near the Ein Siniya roundabout north of Ramallah, causing damage to property,” Wafa added.

In a separate incident, at least six Palestinians were injured in overnight illegal settlers attacks on the village of Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

News agency Wafa reported Saturday that “the settlers attacked the village from the east, riding vehicles bearing Palestinian license plates after the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the area.”

“They assaulted several youths, injuring five of them, one in the head,” it said.

-Property damaged

It also reported that “settlers fired bullets towards the citizens and their homes.”

“On Friday evening, a Palestinian citizen was injured in an attack by settlers on the village, during which at least 12 vehicles, 4 agricultural greenhouses, and 5 motorcycles were burned,” it added.

Dozens of settlers also closed the western entrance of Silwad and attacked vehicles belonging to Palestinian citizens with stones, with no injuries reported, according to Wafa.

“Simultaneously, settlers closed the entrance of Turmus-Aya town and attacked passing vehicles,” it added.

Moreover, they also attacked Palestinian towns in the cities of Qalqilya, Jenin and Hebron, according to Wafa.

The attacks came a day after illegal settlers Friday morning raided the village of Al-Mughayyir, east of the city of Ramallah in central West Bank.

The attack resulted in the killing of a young man and injuries to dozens of Palestinians, and the burning of more than 40 homes.

Tensions have been high across the occupied territory amid ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, which left nearly 33,700 people dead since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 463 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army fire in the West Bank since then, according to the Health Ministry.

• Writing by Ikram Kouachi