Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Dozens of sheep burned to death in suspected settler attack in West Bank; police later say electrical fault to blame
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A fire is seen burning in the West Bank village of as-Samu, in a suspected arson attack that police later said was caused by an electrical fault, February 17, 2026. (Social media; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
Dozens of sheep were burned to death in a what Palestinian media reports said was an overnight arson attack carried out by Israeli settler extremists in the southern West Bank, Palestinian media reports.
Update: Police later say the fire was caused by an electrical fault.
Israeli security forces are heading to the village of as-Samu, near Hebron, to investigate the incident.
Graphic footage from the aftermath shows the burned corpses of the animals.
Detectives from the Hebron police station have arrived at the scene and begun investigating the circumstances of the incident, police say.
Police add that officers are checking whether the fire is the result of an arson attack, rather than an electrical short circuit.
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