Israeli Settlers Burn Vehicles, Homes Across West Bank, Killing One

Israeli settlers have intensified arson and violent attacks against Palestinian villages and properties across the West Bank, causing fatalities, injuries, and significant property damage. In Silwad, a Palestinian man died from smoke inhalation after settlers set fire to homes and vehicles, with witnesses reporting attacks originating from illegal nearby outposts. Similar assaults occurred in southern West Bank villages such as Susiya and Masafer Yatta, where settlers burned vehicles, water tanks, and furniture, with some attacks involving Molotov cocktails and pepper gas; Palestinians reported Israeli forces firing on civilians defending their communities. In the northern West Bank near Nablus, settlers torched a tire repair shop and clashed with residents, while in Taybeh, the last all-Christian town in the West Bank, extremist settlers engaged in arson, graffiti, and intimidation targeting homes and the historic Church of St. George, prompting condemnation from church leaders who highlighted a pattern of settler violence and impunity. Despite Israeli police investigations, Palestinians remain skeptical about accountability given past failures to hold perpetrators responsible. These attacks reflect escalating tensions and fear in occupied territories amid ongoing conflict and settlement expansions.