Dozens of Israeli settlers, some wearing masks, attacked a Palestinian village near the city of Qalqilya in the occupied West Bank, burning a car and killing at least one person, authorities said Thursday.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said one Palestinian was killed and another seriously injured by Israeli settler gunfire in the village of Zit, the latest in a series of violent settler attacks in the West Bank.
Footage shared on social media showed cars and houses burning after the attack.
A man stands in front of a burnt-out car after a deadly attack by Jewish settlers on the village of Zit in the occupied West Bank, August 16, 2024. Jaafar Ashtier/AFP – Getty Images
The White House said late Thursday that settler attacks on Palestinian civilians in the West Bank are “unacceptable and must stop.”
“Israeli authorities must take steps to protect all communities from harm, including intervening to stop this violence and holding all perpetrators of such violence accountable,” the White House spokesman added.
The Israeli army said police and army forces intervened and arrested one Israeli, and condemned the incident as a distraction from security forces’ mission.
The army said it was investigating reports of Palestinian deaths.
A man inspects the damage to his house after a Jewish settler attack on the village of Zit in the occupied West Bank on August 16, 2024. Jaafar Ashtier/AFP – Getty Images
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement saying it was taking the incident “extremely seriously.”
“Those responsible for any crimes will be arrested and brought to justice,” the statement said.
Palestinians frequently accuse Israeli security forces of standing by and allowing violent settler groups to attack their homes and villages, and such incidents have caused growing concern internationally.
The United States and European countries have imposed sanctions against violent settlers and have repeatedly called on Israel to take further steps to curb attacks.
