Escalation of Settler Attacks in the West Bank: Injuries in Tubas and Jerusalem, and Land Seizure with Tents

Local sources reported that a number of Palestinian citizens were injured early Thursday morning, following an attack by settlers in the Safah Tayasir area, northeast of Tubas. The injured were transferred to nearby hospitals for necessary treatment, amidst the recurrence of these attacks, which have targeted the same area intensively recently.

In the context of field settlement expansion, groups of settlers set up tents this morning on lands in the village of Ammarin, northwest of Nablus. This step comes as part of attempts to impose a new settlement reality in the area, as settlers stormed the village under security protection and deployed their equipment on private citizens' lands.

The tent-setting operations were not limited to Nablus but extended to include the Khalayel al-Loz area southeast of Bethlehem, in addition to another tent in the Ayoun area in the southern part of Tubas. Sources stated that this latter area is inhabited by Palestinian families who were forcibly displaced from the northern Jordan Valley due to previous attacks.

Regarding injuries in occupied Jerusalem, ambulance crews confirmed the transfer of 5 injured people to the hospital yesterday, Wednesday, as a result of being severely beaten by settlers in the town of Mikhmas. These attacks occurred specifically in the Al-Mukabira area on the outskirts of the town, causing varying injuries and bruises to citizens.

In Hebron Governorate, early Wednesday witnessed an attack targeting economic facilities, where settlers set fire to a bulldozer and work equipment inside a quarry located in the southern area of the city. These attacks are part of targeting the livelihoods of Palestinians and destroying their private property to intimidate them and push them to leave their lands.

Official data issued by the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission indicates that last February witnessed an unprecedented escalation, with more than 511 attacks carried out in various governorates of the West Bank. The commission also recorded the martyrdom of 7 Palestinians by settler bullets since the end of last month until the beginning of this week.

Since October 7, 2023, the death toll from attacks by the occupation army and settlers in the West Bank has reached about 1134 martyrs, while approximately 11,700 citizens have sustained varying injuries. These figures show the extent of violence against Palestinian civilians in various villages, towns, and cities.

Regarding arrest campaigns, reports indicate that the occupation forces have arrested nearly 22,000 Palestinians since the beginning of the recent escalation last October. These arrests are accompanied by widespread destruction of homes and facilities, exacerbating the humanitarian and economic conditions of the population in the occupied territories.

Policies of forced displacement and home demolition continue as essential tools in settlement expansion, with Bedouin and agricultural communities being directly targeted. This plan aims to empty the land of its original owners in favor of building and expanding illegal settlements that devour vast areas of the West Bank.

Settlers carried out 511 attacks in the West Bank last February, leading to an increase in the number of casualties and field violations.