Qalqilya: In an attack carried out on Monday night by extremist colonists under the protection of Israeli occupation forces, several Palestinian residents were injured, and several vehicles, commercial establishments, and parts of homes were set ablaze in the villages of Jinsafut and al-Fanduq east of Qalqilya, according to a local official.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Jalal Bashir, the head of the Jinsafut Village Council, reported that dozens of colonists raided the village, setting fire to three homes, a nursery, and a carpentry workshop situated along the Qalqilya-Nablus main road. Colonists also torched several vehicles owned by Palestinian residents. During the attack, one citizen sustained a minor head injury while attempting to protect his home from the colonists' attack. Several other residents suffocated after inhaling tear gas fired by the Israeli soldiers.
Concurrently, Israeli forces closed the iron gate at the eastern entrance to Qalqilya, resulting in severe traffic congestion. On Sunday evening, extremist colonists set fire to and damaged several Palestinian vehicles, closed roads, and blocked key intersections in various parts of the West Bank.
Since the onset of the Israeli brutal onslaught on Gaza in October 2023, colonists have increased their attacks across the West Bank, often with the support of Israeli occupation forces. These attacks, which target Palestinian homes, vehicles, agricultural lands, and places of worship, have become more frequent and violent. Colonists also engage in intimidation through vandalism, arson, and racist chants calling for the expulsion and killing of Palestinians.
The violent actions of colonists in the West Bank have drawn widespread international condemnation, with many countries and organizations calling for accountability. In response to the escalating violence, several countries have issued sanctions targeting individuals and groups responsible for such acts. These sanctions range from travel bans to asset freezes, aimed at holding radical colonists accountable for their role in the ongoing violence against Palestinians.
