Curfew imposed after settler and Palestinian arson attacks erupt in West Bank
A series of retaliatory fires involving vehicles and construction equipment occurred across the Kalkilya and Nablus districts on Monday.
By Nadia Rahman ·
One Israeli vehicle was burned near Kibbutz Mitzpe Shalem on Monday, sparking a chain of retaliatory fires across the West Bank. According to a report on Army Radio via Telegram, Palestinian rioters started the blaze near the settlement overlooking the Dead Sea. The incident triggered a series of counter-attacks by Jewish settlers and further Palestinian responses within the same day.
The Israel Defense Forces responded to the initial attack by imposing a curfew in the West Bank village of Azzun, located in the Kalkilya Governorate. Following the vehicle burning, Jewish rioters entered a commercial area near the village of Beita, close to Nablus. They set fire to construction equipment and vehicles in the area. The report noted that numerous arson sites were documented in that vicinity, with no arrests reported as of Monday.
These events follow a pattern of similar attacks recorded earlier this month. Last week, Arab residents of Beit Ummar reportedly set fire to an Israeli vehicle near the settler farm Gafen Ami. That attack allegedly occurred in response to Jewish rioters entering the Palestinian town and igniting Palestinian-owned vehicles, according to Army Radio. The IDF has not issued a statement regarding the Monday attacks or the previous week's incidents.
In a separate operation on Monday overnight, the military conducted an activity near the Palestinian village of Burqa. The goal was to prevent stone-throwing incidents on a highway used by Israelis. Soldiers identified several Palestinians preparing to throw stones at the road. Previous stone-throwing attacks had been recorded on that route. The IDF stated that soldiers responded with gunfire to neutralize the threat.
