Moawya Ali and his family faced a violent attack by Israeli settlers in the West Bank town of Jit. He managed to evacuate his five children to safety before returning to find around 30 settlers, armed and masked, invading his property.
These settlers broke into his home, throwing Molotov cocktails and destroying much of the ground floor. The atmosphere was tense, with the attackers shouting threats in Arabic and Hebrew, declaring their intention to kill Arabs.
The incident was part of a larger coordinated assault by dozens of settlers, who stormed into Jit from three different directions. They carried firearms, tear gas, and other weapons, setting houses and cars ablaze. Some residents, like Mohamed Arman, attempted to defend themselves but were overpowered.
Arman was injured by a rock thrown by one of the settlers, who also torched his vehicle. CCTV footage captured some of the events, showing settlers dressed uniformly in black.
The violence drew widespread condemnation from Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who issued a statement vowing to hold those responsible accountable. However, many Palestinians in Jit felt the words of the Israeli government rang hollow.
Violent Settler Attack in Jit Sparks Outrage and Fear Among West Bank Palestinians
One resident, Rashid Sedda, was killed during the attack, and his burial became a focal point of mourning and anger. Mourners blamed far-right Israeli ministers for encouraging such violence, accusing them of fostering an environment where settler attacks are increasingly frequent.
Far-right ministers like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir have been accused of inciting violence against Palestinians, especially in the wake of the ongoing war in Gaza. Smotrich has advocated for more settlements in the West Bank, and Ben Gvir suggested that Israeli soldiers should be allowed to shoot stone-throwers.
Despite the condemnation of the attack, these ministers’ rhetoric has fueled tensions and enabled settlers to act with impunity.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded to the attack by dispersing the settlers and apprehending one individual for questioning. However, residents of Jit were skeptical that justice would be served.
They argued that the settlers had acted with tacit approval from the government, given the strong far-right influence within Netanyahu’s coalition. The attack, they believed, was part of a larger pattern of settler violence that had worsened since the escalation of the conflict in October.
The United Nations has recorded a significant increase in settler attacks on Palestinians, with over 1,100 incidents documented between October 7 and August 5 alone. The violence has led to numerous deaths and injuries. Settler leaders have distanced themselves from the attackers, but residents of Jit feel abandoned and vulnerable to future assaults, fearing Thursday’s attack may only be the beginning.
Local Palestinian leaders, such as Murad Eshtewi from the Fatah party, criticized Israeli leadership for allowing such violence to persist. They accused Netanyahu of sending mixed messages, publicly condemning the attacks while enabling settler leaders who promote violence. Residents of Jit called on the international community to intervene, as they feel powerless to stop the violence on their own.
Jit residents remain fearful that the attacks will continue, with many expressing frustration at the international community’s failure to act. They see the violence as part of a broader conflict that extends beyond Gaza and the West Bank, one in which the safety of Palestinian civilians is continually jeopardized with little recourse for justice.
