Overnight on Tuesday, Israeli settlers allegedly set fire to a wedding hall in the central West Bank village of Bidya, according to Palestinian media. Graffiti reading “Revenge,” “Death to Arabs,” and “Fight the enemy, not the friend” was also found sprayed across the village walls.
Footage circulating online showed the wedding hall engulfed in flames, though no injuries were reported. The West Bank police and Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency confirmed they had opened an investigation into the suspected arson and vandalism.
This latest incident came just a day after settlers were reported to have attacked the village of Umm al-Khair in the southern West Bank. A source from the area told The Times of Israel that settlers had placed a caravan near the village and tried to breach a fence, triggering a confrontation. Following that, dozens of masked individuals armed with clubs reportedly assaulted villagers, injuring five Palestinians — including a 14-year-old boy — who were later hospitalized.
Video clips on social media showed Israeli police and military at the scene, although it’s unclear whether they intervened during or only after the violence.
Police later acknowledged that there had been friction between settlers and Palestinians over an illegal fence, but no arrests were made. One injured Palestinian was taken for treatment by the Red Crescent.
Since October 7, 2023, following the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel that killed around 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages, the West Bank has seen a dramatic rise in violence. The Israeli military has launched sweeping counterterrorism operations in the region, killing hundreds — reportedly mostly militants — and displacing tens of thousands.
Despite the escalation, arrests related to settler violence remain rare. Notably, the head of the West Bank police is currently under investigation for allegedly neglecting to act against settler attacks to align with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
The international community, including the previous U.S. administration and several European governments, began imposing sanctions on violent settlers last year due to the lack of legal accountability. However, U.S. President Donald Trump revoked those sanctions in January after assuming office.
Following a separate settler rampage in the village of Duma last week, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz avoided labeling the attack as terrorism. “I don’t define this as ‘terror,’” he stated, while affirming that law enforcement should address such incidents.
Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/settlers-said-to-burn-down-wedding-hall-paint-death-to-arabs-in-west-bank-village/