A Palestinian was martyred yesterday evening, Thursday, in the village of Jit, east of the city of Qalqilya in the occupied West Bank, by bullets from extremist settlers. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for action from Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, who are urging residents to confront settler violence. The White House has condemned these attacks as 'unacceptable.'
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that the injured young man was taken to the hospital in critical condition but succumbed to his injuries. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed that its crews treated over ten injuries resulting from the settler assaults. Local sources indicated that around a hundred armed settlers, some masked, attacked the village, setting fire to vehicles and buildings, and firing live ammunition.
The Israeli army has acknowledged that dozens of Israelis, including masked individuals, entered Jit, committing acts of arson and violence. They stated that they intervened to disperse the intruders and arrested one individual. The army condemned the violence, asserting that it undermines security and impedes their operations against terrorism.
In response to the violence, both Hamas and Islamic Jihad have issued statements denouncing the attacks. Hamas mourned the death of Rashid Mahmoud Sedda and called for a Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation. Islamic Jihad described the settler attacks as a declaration of war and urged Palestinians to resist.
The White House has reiterated the need for Israeli authorities to take immediate action to prevent such violence and ensure accountability for the perpetrators. In addition to the violence in Jit, there have been reports of settlers burning agricultural lands in the Ramin Plain and clashes in the Shuafat refugee camp, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the region.
