Israel: Deadly Attack at Jewish Settlement in Occupied West Bank

An Israeli man has been killed in a fatal attack at a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, just three days after a deadly raid on a nearby Palestinian village. The incident marks the latest escalation in violence in the region, which has seen a surge in tensions since Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7.

According to the Beilinson Hospital, the Israeli man was fatally wounded in the attack and declared dead after several attempts to save his life. The Israeli military reported that a “terrorist” had attacked a civilian, stolen his weapon, and made his escape in the Kedumim settlement, located in the northern West Bank.

Local officials identified the victim as a resident of the settlement, which is close to the village of Jit. In a related incident, settlers killed a 23-year-old Palestinian man in an attack in Jit on Thursday. Residents of the settlement alleged that around 100 settlers armed with knives and firearms set fire to cars and homes in the attack, which was strongly condemned by Israeli officials, as well as the United States, United Nations, and European countries.

The occupied West Bank has seen a significant surge in violence since October 7, with at least 635 Palestinians killed by Israeli troops or settlers, according to an AFP count based on Palestinian official figures. During the same period, at least 19 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks, according to Israeli official figures.

Settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law, as they are built on land occupied by Israel since 1967. The ongoing violence and political tensions in the region highlight the complex and volatile situation in the West Bank, which is separated geographically from Gaza by Israeli territory.