Israeli Colonists Launch Armed Attack on Palestinian Houses in West Bank Town.

HEBRON: Armed Israeli colonists on Friday launched an attack on Palestinian houses in Surif, a town northwest of Hebron in the southern West Bank. The incident, which involved the colonists opening gunfire, has raised tensions in the area.

According to Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA, Mahmoud Naji, a member of the Surif Municipal Council, reported that dozens of armed colonists, supported by the army, were involved in the attack. The assailants originated from the nearby colony of Bat Ayin, escalating concerns over the security of Palestinian residents.

Abdullah Ghneimat, a resident of Surif, described how the colonists smashed the windows of three houses using stones and set fires near them. He noted that the presence of alert residents was crucial in preventing the fires from consuming the houses, highlighting the persistent threat faced by local communities.

Violence by colonists against Palestinians and their property is a recurring issue in the West Bank, often occurring with little legal
consequence from Israeli authorities. Such acts of violence typically include arson of property and mosques, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, and attacks on homes, particularly those deemed vulnerable.

The attack underscores ongoing tensions as over 700,000 Israeli colonists reside in colonies across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, a situation deemed illegal under international law.