HEBRON: Israeli settlers uprooted about 850 olive trees and grapevines on Monday belonging to a Palestinian family southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron, a local activist has told Palestinian news agency WAFA.
Anti-settlement activist Osama Makhamreh said that armed colonists from Susiya — which was illegally established on land south of Hebron — stormed property at Khirbet Khallat Al-Hummus, southeast of Yatta, under the protection of the occupation army.
The settlers uprooted olive trees and grapevines, destroyed the contents of a room in an agricultural building, and vandalized barbed-wire fences.
Violence in the West Bank has increased since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.
BACKGROUND
The UN said that October had been the worst month for settler violence since it began recording incidents in 2006.
The UN said that October had been the worst month for settler violence since it began recording incidents in 2006, with 264 attacks that had caused casualties or damage to property.
More than 500,000 Israelis currently live in settlements in the West Bank — which has been occupied since 1967 — along with 3 million Palestinians.
Three Italians and a Canadian were treated at a Jericho hospital on Sunday after being attacked by settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, one of the group told the Agence France-Presse news agency.
Italy’s Foreign Ministry in Rome said that “three Italian international volunteers were attacked last night by Israeli settlers,” adding that they were “still in shock from the incident.”
Riyad Eid, director of the Jericho government hospital, said: “Four foreigners arrived at the hospital this morning after being beaten by settlers, according to what they reported.
“They were suffering from bruises on the face … and on the chest, and one of them was beaten in a sensitive area. They were examined, given X-rays and ultrasound scans, provided with the necessary treatment and then discharged.”
One of the four, who had visible bruising and did not wish to be identified, told AFP that three of the people were from Italy and one from Canada. They had been staying in the Duyuk area on the western edge of Jericho in the central West Bank.
They said: “We were asleep at night … 10 masked settlers came, two of them had guns, some of them had sticks. They kicked me multiple times in the face, in the ribs, in the hip.
“It lasted about 10 to 15 minutes. And then they took all of our things. They stole my passport, my phone, my wallet, my bank cards, and then they left.
“We had to have X-rays, (and) painkillers. Our friend was beaten more severely than we were.”
Italy’s Foreign Ministry added that “the settlers reportedly entered their home, attacked the volunteers, and stole all their personal belongings.”
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is reported to be “following the incident,” while in close contact with Italy’s consul general in Jerusalem.
