Live Update arrow right icon From the Liveblog of Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Settlers set fire to Palestinian buildings after troops demolish structures in West Bank Israeli outpost

4 December 2024, 9:04 am 11 Edit
A building burns after it was apparently attacked by rioting settlers near Nablus on December 4, 2024 (Screen grab via X used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
A building burns after it was apparently attacked by rioting settlers near Nablus on December 4, 2024 (Screen grab via X used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Dozens of settlers rioted overnight, setting fire to Palestinian buildings and vehicles, after troops demolished three buildings in a nearby West Bank settlement outpost.

The Yesh Din watchdog says settlers set fire to the house of a family of seven in Huwara, as well as two vehicles. The group says neighbors saved the family from the blaze, but the father was attacked with rocks and sticks and was said to have been hospitalized with skull fractures.

Settlers also burned down a house under construction, a grocery store and a vehicle in Bayt Furik near Nablus, the Ynet news site reports.

According to the Civil Administration, which runs civil affairs in the West Bank, the illegal outpost construction was on private Palestinian land near Nablus.

“The construction was erected illegally and was evacuated by decision of the security establishment, also in light of numerous criminal incidents against Palestinians that emanated from the area,” the administration says in a statement, according to Hebrew-language media.

“One of the structures served as a hall for Torah study, and those staying there were asked to evacuate it in advance out of respect for the sanctity of the place. Troops were instructed to act with sensitivity and to protect the sacred objects in the building,” the administration says.

The Ynet news site says two Border Police officers were lightly wounded in clashes with settlers.

According to Palestinian media reports, in the wake of the evacuation of the illegal outpost, dozens of settlers arrived in Palestinian towns in the Nablus area and set fire to a number of houses.

Settler violence against Palestinians has soared since the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre and security forces been accused of turning a blind eye to the attacks.

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