Ramallah: Israeli colonists on Wednesday evening attacked the Deir Dibwan town, east of the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, and injured 10 Palestinians, according to local sources. They reported that dozens of colonists targeted the homes of town residents, setting fire to a local farm, several vehicles, livestock, and horse barns at the western entrance.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the assailants encroached upon houses, besieging some families inside and preventing not only youths but also ambulances and firefighters from accessing the area to provide first aid treatment to casualties and extinguish the fires. The attackers originated from a colonial outpost established on the lands of Deir Dibwan and the nearby village of Burqa, and they hurled stones at passersby on the main street adjacent to the town.
The sources confirmed that 10 Palestinians sustained injuries, with two individuals being rushed to a hospital while eight others received treatment at a local medical center. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that its crews provided first aid treatment to two Palestinians injured by beatings from the settlers before they were hospitalized. Additionally, PRCS crews treated five others injured from physical assaults at the local medical center.
The assailants also attacked houses and properties in the nearby town of Beitin, attempting to set fire to several homes. The sources noted that the occupation forces protected the assailants and sealed off the town entrance, preventing residents from entering or exiting.
Colonists' violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities. Such violence includes property and mosque arsons, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, and attacks on vulnerable homes, among others. Approximately 1 million Israeli colonists are living in colonies in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in violation of international law.
