On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, a group of around 50 Israeli settlers attacked homes in the northern West Bank village of Duma, leaving three Palestinians injured as the attackers torched property and assaulted residents.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed receiving reports of Israeli civilians entering the village and igniting fires, which escalated into a violent confrontation with Palestinian residents.
IDF troops and police were dispatched to disperse the violence, the military stated, adding that it condemns such actions and is committed to maintaining security and order in the region.
While five suspects were initially detained, Israeli defense sources revealed that they managed to escape custody. No formal arrests have been reported.
Context and Reactions:
Palestinian medical teams confirmed that the injured were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Duma was previously the site of a 2015 firebomb attack by an extremist settler, Amiram Ben-Uliel, which resulted in the death of 18-month-old Ali Dawabsha and his parents.
Israeli opposition figure Yair Golan, head of The Democrats party, condemned the attack, accusing the government of fueling West Bank violence.
“The pogrom in Duma is not a glitch—it is the result of a deliberate policy,” Golan stated on social media. “The government is empowering rioters and creating a permanent security emergency for political survival.”
His criticism extends to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he accused of escalating tensions in the West Bank to maintain his grip on power.
Rising Tensions in the West Bank:
The incident follows another settler attack in Jinba, a village in the southern West Bank, where several Palestinian residents were injured. While 22 Palestinians were detained, no Israeli settlers were arrested.
Since October 7, 2023, the West Bank has witnessed an increase in violence following Hamas’s attack on Israel, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and led to the ongoing war in Gaza. The Israeli military has launched extensive counterterrorism operations in the West Bank, killing hundreds—whom the IDF largely describes as combatants—and displacing thousands.
Despite the rise in settler violence, arrests of Israeli perpetrators remain rare. The West Bank police chief is currently under investigation for allegedly refusing to take action against settler attacks to align with the hardline policies of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
The lack of accountability has drawn international criticism. The previous US administration and several European governments imposed sanctions on violent settlers last year. However, US President Donald Trump lifted those sanctions upon taking office in January.
Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/dozens-of-settlers-attack-homes-in-west-bank-village-3-palestinians-reportedly-hurt/