A violent incident involving Israeli settlers has rocked a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank, leading to sharp condemnation from high-ranking Israeli officials.

On Thursday, over 70 armed settlers stormed the village of Jit, unleashing a barrage of bullets and tear gas on residents. The attackers also set fire to homes, cars, and other property, according to Nasser Sedda, head of Jit's village council.

Tragically, Rashid Sedda, Nasser's cousin, was killed during the assault. The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Health confirmed that the 23-year-old succumbed to a chest injury sustained in the attack. 

Nasser Sedda described the assault as unprecedented. “We’ve had attacks before, but nothing like this. It was a complete surprise—women, children, and the elderly were caught off guard.” 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that settlers, some masked, set fires, threw rocks, and launched Molotov cocktails before Israeli security forces intervened. One individual has been detained for questioning, and the IDF, along with the ISA and Israeli Police, is conducting a joint investigation into the events.

Footage of the attack revealed the extent of the damage, showing burning vehicles and flames engulfing a two-story building. One video captured medics performing CPR on Rashid Sedda, while residents attempted to extinguish the fires.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported treating three injuries from the attack, including an elderly woman suffering from gas inhalation and two young men injured by stones.

Top Israeli leaders have swiftly condemned the violence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement expressing serious concern and pledging that those responsible would face justice. Interior Minister Moshe Arbel labeled the attacks as a “serious nationalist crime” contrary to Jewish values, while Defense Minister Yoav Gallant denounced the “violent, radical riots” as contrary to Israeli principles.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also condemned the incident, calling for swift action to hold those responsible accountable and stressing that the attack harmed both the settler community and Israel’s global standing during a sensitive time.

Some West Bank settlement leaders have distanced themselves from the rioters, labeling them as “outsiders.”

Settler attacks on Palestinian communities have been a persistent issue. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), there have been at least 1,143 settler attacks against Palestinians from October 7, 2023, to August 5, 2024. Of these, at least 114 resulted in fatalities or injuries.

In response to the violence, the US has imposed sanctions on Israeli settlers involved in such activities, including freezing their assets and barring them from entering the US. The US State Department has expressed deep concern over the violence, highlighting its impact on regional stability and Israel’s security.

Israeli settlements, established on land occupied since the 1967 Six-Day War, are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. The settler movement, seen as a major obstacle to peace, has gained significant influence over the years.

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