Key facts
- Israeli settlers, described as teenagers, have been launching weekly attacks on Palestinian homes in al-Mughayyir village.
- During these attacks, Israeli soldiers are often present and sometimes appear to support or participate in the assaults.
- Residents reported injuries from tear gas, beatings, and a gunshot wound during one recent incident.
- Footage appears to show Israeli soldiers failing to intervene against settlers damaging property and confronting residents.
- The IDF stated it is investigating property damage claims and responded to a violent riot, acknowledging firing live rounds at stone-throwers.
The gate of the Abu Alia family compound in al-Mughayyir village became a focal point of confrontation as teenage Israeli settlers repeatedly smashed it with clubs, accompanied by insults. Israeli soldiers and border police were present, with residents reporting that soldiers beat people inside the house and filmed the encounter. Footage appears to show soldiers making minimal efforts to detain the attackers or confiscate their weapons, while settlers also broke fencing around the property. Medics treated several Palestinians for injuries, including a gunshot wound. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated its forces were responding to a confrontation and were investigating property damage claims, acknowledging firing live rounds at Palestinians throwing stones. Journalists attempting to document the events were also obstructed by soldiers. Palestinian paramedics reported facing routine difficulties, including having their ambulance keys confiscated. These weekly attacks by settlers on Palestinian homes are described as a common occurrence in villages across the occupied West Bank, which Palestinians view as part of a broader effort to bring West Bank land under Israeli control. Israel has built over 100 settlements housing more than half a million Jews on land Palestinians seek for a future state, with both official settlements and unofficial outposts considered illegal under international law.