Israeli Settlers Set Fire to Military Site in West Bank Amid Rising Tensions
Occupation Army Reports Growing Settler Attacks on Israeli Forces Following Arrests Linked to Deadly Assaults on Palestinians.
Watan-The Israeli occupation army said on Monday that Israeli settlers had set fire to a military security site in the occupied West Bank.
Recent days have seen an increase in settler attacks on Israeli forces in the West Bank after the army arrested several settlers following their assault last Wednesday on the town of Kafr Malik in central West Bank, which resulted in the martyrdom of three Palestinians and the injury of seven others. Meanwhile, settlers continue to launch attacks on Palestinians under the protection of the army.
In a statement, the army said: “Overnight (Sunday to Monday), Israelis set fire to a security site containing systems designed to thwart attacks and maintain security in the Binyamin Brigade area (central West Bank).”
It added that “damaging the site poses a danger to the safety of residents.”
Israeli Settlers Attack Military Base Amid Growing Rift with IDF in West Bank
Disregarding the ongoing settler and army violence against Palestinian civilians, the Israeli army condemned “any form of violence against security forces.”
It further stated that it “expects security forces to bring those who harm the military to justice.”
According to Israel’s state broadcaster, “extremist settlers set fire last night to a vital security facility in the West Bank.”
The report added that “they also wrote slogans on the walls of the facility, and the security establishment is investigating whether the site’s performance was affected by the fire.”
The incident came amid rising tensions in the West Bank, with dozens of Israelis gathering at the entrance of the Binyamin Brigade headquarters. Some reportedly spat on soldiers, sprayed pepper spray on police officers, and vandalized three military vehicles.
Others attempted to storm the base by force, raising banners accusing the brigade commander of treason and demanding his imprisonment.
Police and border guards dispersed the crowd using undisclosed riot control measures.
Settlers Assault Soldiers and Escalate Violence as Palestinian Death Toll Nears 1,000
On Saturday, settlers attacked an officer and reserve soldiers near the village of Al-Mughayyir, north of Ramallah in central West Bank, causing minor injuries. “Six suspects were arrested, including two minors,” according to the broadcaster.
It added that the same night saw attempts to run over soldiers deliberately and that around 30 settlers threw stones at a military unit. Soldiers responded with warning shots into the air, with no injuries reported.
Additionally, five settler vehicles intentionally rammed into a military vehicle to block the road, causing damage to the army vehicle.
The ongoing settler attacks on Israeli officers and soldiers are accompanied by an escalation against Palestinians in the West Bank. Since October 7, 2023, at least 986 Palestinians have been killed, and about 7,000 injured, according to Palestinian data, as a result of settler and Israeli army assaults.
