Israeli settlers kill at least one Palestinian in attack on West Bank village
A view of damaged homes and burning vehicles following an Israeli settler incursion in a town near Ramallah in the West Bank on April 12. (Issam Rimawi/Anatolu/Getty Images)
Hundreds of armed Israeli settlers stormed a village in the occupied West Bank on Friday, setting several homes and cars on fire, in one of the largest attacks by settlers this year, according to Palestinian officials.
At least one Palestinian was killed when Israeli settlers opened fire in the village of al-Mukhair, east of Ramallah, according to the head of the village council, Amin Abu-Alia. The slain Palestinian was identified as his 26-year-old cousin, Jihad Abu-Alia, whom he was to marry this summer.
At least 25 people were wounded in the attack, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, the scale of which has not been seen since hundreds of settlers attacked the villages of Turmusaya and Huwara in two separate incidents last year.
Between 1,000 and 1,200 settlers surrounded the village, and another 500 entered after noon Friday local time, blocking all roads in the area, Abu-Alia told CNN.
He said Israeli security forces had informed Palestinian authorities that settlers were searching for a 14-year-old Israeli boy who had gone missing that day.
They stormed the village, attacking houses and shooting at residents, Abu-Alia said. Videos obtained by CNN show parts of the village engulfed in flames, smoke billowing from several buildings and settlers hurling rocks. Houses and cars are completely burnt, gunshots and clashes are in the background.
According to Abu-Alia, the Israeli army arrived at the site around 3:00 p.m. and did not stop the settlers from attacking the village. Israeli forces allowed them to attack homes, prevent Palestinian residents from moving and deny ambulance access to the injured.
Abu-Alia told CNN that the settlers stole approximately 70 sheep from the Palestinian village.
In response to a question from CNN, the IDF said the search for the boy “sparked violent riots in several places in the area.”
