Hundreds of armed Israeli settlers stormed a village in the occupied West Bank on Friday, setting fire to a number of homes and cars in one of the largest settler attacks this year, according to Palestinian officials.
At least a young Palestinian man was killed by Israeli settlers’ bullets in the village of Al-Mughayir, east of Ramallah, according to the head of the village council, Amin Abu Alia. He said that he recognized the dead Palestinian as a 26-year-old relative of his named Jihad Abu Alia, who was supposed to get married this summer.
At least 25 others were injured in the violence, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, the scale of which has not been seen since hundreds of settlers stormed West Bank villages. Thermosaya And an example In two separate incidents last year.
Abu Alia told CNN that between 1,000 and 1,200 settlers surrounded the village, and about 500 stormed it after midday local time on Friday, closing all roads in the area.
He added that Israeli security forces informed Palestinian officials that settlers were searching for a 14-year-old Israeli boy who had gone missing earlier in the day.
Abu Alia said that they attacked the village, raided the houses, and shot the residents. Videos obtained by CNN show parts of the village burning, with smoke rising above many buildings and settlers throwing stones. Houses and cars were seen completely burned, with sounds of gunfire and clashes being heard in the background.
According to Abu Alia, Israeli army forces arrived at the scene at around three in the afternoon, and did not prevent the settlers from attacking the village. He added that the occupation soldiers allowed them to raid homes, prevented Palestinian residents from moving, and prevented ambulances from reaching the injured.
Abu Alia told CNN that settlers stole approximately 70 sheep from the Palestinian village.
In response to a question by CNN, the Israeli military said that “violent riots were incited at multiple locations in the area” after the search for the boy.
