Dozens of Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian vehicles and homes in Jab’a, a village located about 15 kilometers (nine miles) southwest of Bethlehem, on March 4, 2024. The attack followed the demolition of illegal outpost structures by Israeli forces in the area. Two videos geolocated by CNN show multiple vehicles and a building engulfed in flames during the incident, as local residents struggled to extinguish the fires.
A surveillance camera in Jab’a captured the moment when masked individuals entered a home and ignited vehicles parked nearby. According to Diab Masha’leh, the head of the Jab’a village council, settlers attacked the village and set fire to three inhabited homes and three vehicles. Fortunately, the villagers managed to extinguish the flames without any reported injuries, although Masha’leh noted that “severe material damage” was inflicted on the targeted properties.
This incident is part of a troubling trend of increasingly aggressive settler attacks against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. In a notable response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence, characterizing it as stemming from “a small, extremist group that does not represent the settlers” in the region. He stated, “I intend to deal with this personally and convene the relevant ministers as soon as possible to address this serious phenomenon,” an apparent reference to far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has been a vocal supporter of settlements.
Details Surrounding the Attack
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement acknowledging that following the evacuation of illegal structures, numerous Israeli civilians set fire to and vandalized homes and vehicles in Jab’a. The IDF emphasized that security forces at the scene were conducting searches to locate those involved, and the situation remained ongoing.
Earlier on the same day, clashes erupted between Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank after security personnel demolished several illegal outpost structures near Metzad, also known as Asfar. This demolition is seen as an unusual action by the current government, as such outposts are illegal under both international and Israeli law. A joint statement from the Israeli military and police indicated that the clashes resulted in injuries among several Border Police officers and other personnel.
The statement detailed that Israeli security forces, including the Civil Administration, began the evacuation and demolition early in the morning. “During the operation, violent riots erupted involving dozens of barricaded individuals and hundreds of rioters, including assaults on security forces through stone-throwing, the hurling of iron rods, and the burning of tires and vehicles,” it said. Six suspects were arrested amid the chaos.
Official Responses and Broader Implications
In the aftermath of the attack by settlers, the IDF reiterated its condemnation of violence, stating that it harms security in the area and diverts attention from essential defense and counterterrorism operations. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz expressed full support for the IDF, declaring, “We will not tolerate attempts by a small, violent, criminal group of anarchistic lawbreakers to take the law into their own hands and tarnish the settler public.”
As tensions continue to rise in the West Bank, the implications of such actions are profound, affecting both local communities and broader Israeli-Palestinian relations. The ongoing cycle of violence underscores the complexities and challenges that remain in achieving peace in the region.
