Monday, October 30, 2023

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Huwara Attacked Despite Army Presence

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Israeli settlers have attacked Palestinians in the town of Huwara, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, leaving at least six people injured. The attack came just hours before a Palestinian man died from gunshot wounds he had sustained during an Israeli military raid in Nablus last month, in which 11 Palestinians were killed and over 100 were injured. The Palestinian news agency Wafa identified the man as Omayr Lolah from the village of Zawata. One of the six men injured in the Huwara attack was hospitalised with serious head injuries, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Palestinian media outlets reported that settlers physically assaulted Palestinians during the attack, set fire to homes and vehicles, sprayed pepper spray, and damaged cars, homes and shops. The attack began during iftar time, when Palestinian Muslims were breaking their day-long fast.

A verified video showed Israeli settlers stoning a Palestinian ambulance driving down the main road in Huwara, as Israeli soldiers watched on. Two Palestinian ambulances were badly damaged and one truck was torched. Israeli soldiers were filmed beating and arresting Palestinians, firing tear gas at them, and forcing them to close their shops. Israeli media reports claimed that Israeli forces had arrested four settlers in connection with the attacks.

The Palestinian health ministry condemned the destruction of ambulances and increasing recent attacks on the health system, including medics. The ministry said that “the persistence of the occupation [soldiers] and settlers in attacking treatment centres and health workers, and obstructing the movement of ambulances and paramedics, is increasing dramatically day by day,” adding that it “appeals to international institutions and organisations to intervene”. Last week, Israeli forces fired dozens of tear gas canisters and stun grenades for more than two hours into the Ramallah public hospital during a raid on the Qaddoura refugee camp. The health ministry said tens of people, including children, suffered from tear gas inhalation.

In Jerusalem, Israelis beat at least one Palestinian man during protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to halt proposed changes to the Israeli judicial system.

On 27 February, Israeli settlers carried out one of the largest organised attacks on Palestinians in years in Huwara. At least 400 settlers descended onto the town where they torched more than 30 Palestinian homes and 100 cars, killed 37-year-old Palestinian man Samih al-Aqtash, and injured hundreds of others, in what was described as a “pogrom”. The attack took place after a Palestinian gunman killed two Israelis driving near Huwara. Days later, Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Huwara “should be wiped out,” which observers say has further emboldened settler attacks on Palestinians. Settler attacks have persisted since the Huwara rampage, with little real accountability for the perpetrators.

Last week, Israeli settlers torched a Palestinian home at night in the village of Sinjil, north of Ramallah in the central occupied West Bank. The family, which was asleep at home when the attack took place, managed to evacuate safely.

Smotrich’s statements are in line with actions by the far-right Israeli government that came into power at the end of 2022, which has increased illegal Jewish settlement across the occupied West Bank, increased demolitions of Palestinian homes and vowed to move forward with plans to forcibly displace thousands of Palestinians in the areas of Khan al-Ahmar and Masafer Yatta.

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