Palestinians Injured During Settler March in West Bank

At least 11 Palestinians, including four children, were injured on Friday during a march by Israeli settlers and soldiers through towns southwest of Nablus in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that one individual was shot in the abdomen. The march was organized in memory of two Israelis killed a week prior during clashes in the town of Tal, an event that also left four Palestinians dead.

According to an AFP journalist, between 100 and 150 settlers, some of whom were armed, marched through fields and towns including Sarra and the al-Junaid neighborhood of Nablus. Witnesses and reports indicate that Israeli soldiers escorted the settlers and used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse crowds. The Israeli military stated that civilians had entered Area A, which is prohibited under Israeli law, and that soldiers fired at a primary instigator after Palestinians threw rocks.

Reports on the nature of the event vary by political lean. Center-left coverage frames the incident as an escalation of violence and a raid by settlers and soldiers. Center coverage describes the event as a memorial march that sparked clashes. Left-leaning coverage focuses on the organization of the memorial hikes via WhatsApp invitations.

Additional military activity was reported in the region. Israeli forces detained at least 10 people across the West Bank on Friday. On Thursday, Israeli forces raided Tal and seized four Palestinian homes to convert them into military barracks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously announced that more settlements would be established in the region following the deaths of the two Israelis last week.