Palestinians Report Multiple Settler Attacks Across West Bank

A Palestinian nurse has been permanently paralyzed after being shot in the back by settlers in the southern West Bank town of Sa’ir, according to the Palestinian Nursing and Midwifery Association. A young woman was also reported wounded in the same attack, which Palestinian media attributed to approximately 30 settlers from a nearby outpost. Other reported incidents include a 16 year old boy beaten by settlers near a roadblock in the northern West Bank and five Palestinians, including women and children, injured in an attack in the South Hebron Hills area.

In the village of Qusra, families report being under siege for nearly a week. Residents and rights groups state that militant settlers are attempting to seize land and compel families to flee their homes. One resident reported that his nephew was killed by a settler five months ago, while another claimed he was beaten and forced from his home by settlers and men in Israeli army uniforms. In a separate incident in Qusra, Israeli forces reportedly arrested three Palestinian Authority municipal workers who were attempting to repair power and water lines damaged by settlers.

The Israeli military has deployed troops to Qusra and Jalud to maintain security and protect residents. However, some reports indicate that troops have been unable to remove settlers from the area. The United States has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn the settlers involved in the sieges. The Israeli police and military did not immediately respond to requests for comment on several of these incidents.