Israeli settlers stormed the village of Kafr Malik near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, killing three Palestinians in the process by shooting them dead. Local authorities said dozens of armed settlers raided the village on Wednesday night, unleashing a violent clash that saw homes and vehicles go ablaze. A video revealed people running the streets as heavy sounds of gunfire were heard.
The Israeli army acknowledged that soldiers deployed to the scene arrived to find that settlers and villagers were throwing stones at each other. The army also asserted that some of the so-called terrorists had fired and hurled stones at them, leading to their shooting back. Five Israeli settlers at the scene were detained, with the loss of lives left behind highlighting a worsening crisis in the West Bank.
How Did the Violence in Kaf Malik Play Out?
One of the bloodiest in recent weeks was the Israeli settler assault in Kafr Malik. Palestinian authorities termed it a “terrorist attack,” saying the settlers shot straight at villagers in their residences. They also blamed Israeli forces for keeping emergency services, ambulances, and fire crews away from the wounded and the victims of fires under flames several hours.
There were Murshid Nawwaf Hamayel, Mohammed Qaher al-Naji, and Lutfi Sabri Bearat among the victims. Hundreds of mourners attended their funerals the next day, many of them were frustrated, scared, and rebellious. One middle-aged man enquired, What are we supposed to do when settlers come to our homes and drop petrol bombs?”. Here is the link to our article on Israel Hits Refugee Camp
Why is Kafr Malik so Targeted?
Kafr Malik is the target of recurring attacks in recent weeks. These acts of aggression by the settlers are thought to be promoted by the current Israeli government, which has supported its settlement growth, as well as exercised tolerance against settler violence.
A retired professor of engineering who had been a long-time resident was definite, “They believe that they can just take my land and kick me out, but I am not going anywhere.” It is an indication of a general opposition among Palestinians who would not relinquish their ancestral lands even under constant threat. What was Occurring in the Rest of the West Bank?
Soon after the attack in Kafr Malik, Dar Fazaa, close to the village of Taybeh, erupted into violence. Three cars were burned by the armed settler, who also injured some of the. Occupants, A media group, an organization taking care of human rights, released CCTV footage that showed a group of masked men who burned vehicles and threw stones at buildings.
In another case, in the town of al-Yamoun in a nearby town of Jenin, Israeli soldiers shot dead a 15-year-old Palestinian boy. The military has said that the boy and other people were aiming to explode themselves among the soldiers with explosive devices.
These happenings are not one-off. They are one of many who have experienced amplified violence in the West Bank, and both the settlers and Israeli forces have been blamed for the destabilization.
How has the Settler Movement become Effective?
Since its ascent to power in late 2022, Israel’s current right-wing government endorsed 49 new settlements and began the procedure of legalizing seven unauthorized outposts built heretofore. Last month,, another two dozen settlements were green lit and Israeli ministers lauded it as a step towards forestalling the emergence of a Palestinian state.
The settlements that contain about 700,000 Israeli citizens are considered to be whole, illegal according to international law. But Israel disagrees with this stand. The constant growth, facilitated by government infrastructures, has not only strengthened the settlers but has also worsened the tension among the Palestinian settlements. Here is the link to our article on Israel Continues Terrorism
What is the International Community About Violence?
Attacks on Kafr Malik by settler Israelis have raised the world’s attention. According to the United Nations, the violence of the settlers is increasing rapidly. Already this year, until the first four months, 487 attacks of settlers have been recorded, which led to damage or loss of life in general or property in particular, and in April alone, 122 attacks were recorded.
The Israeli military and the police have been accused of doing nothing or even supporting attacks, despite being condemned by the international community. There is a lack of enforcement. According to human rights organizations, that in itself equates to complicity.
The Palestinian leaders have made pleas for international intervention. It has been written by the Palestinian Vice-President that the rampages of the so-called settlers, accompanied by the so-called army, are the political decisions that are performed with the support of the government. He cautioned that those acts are driving the region to a hyperbolic point of explosion.
How has the Violence Gone Up Since October 7?
The violence in the West Bank has increased after Hamas attacked the south of Israel on October 7, 2023. Israeli police, ever since, have killed over 900 Palestinians in the West Bank, with more than 20 Israelis as well dying.
The turmoil in Gaza seems to be directly connected with the rise in military activities in the area, accompanied by the expansion of the settler movement. The Israeli regime has conducted wide operations against the Palestinian militant groups with the declared end to beat terrorism.
In January, there were large-scale operations by Israeli forces that destroyed whole refugee camps and left more than 40,000 Palestinians displaced in the area of Jenin. The campaign was condemned by the United Nations, which described the devastation of civilian infrastructure and medical facilities as highly worrisome.
What Is The Effect of this Everyday Life?
Life has become very cumbersome for many of the Palestinians in the West Bank. The job has resulted in the curtailing of movements, economic crunch, as well as a permanent fear of violence. This is accompanied by the fact that younger people in general have fewer opportunities and no sense of security.
The funerals of the slain victims of Israeli settler violence became not just mournings, but became acts of solidarity and revolt. Individuals openly declare that they want to resettle on their land and defend their households, though settler aggression remains out of control.
In the meantime, families have to mourn in a fearful atmosphere. The emergency services find it difficult to reach remote villages, blocked by road or troublesome, and the locals believe that they are left out by their oppressors as well as the international community.
Final Thoughts
The West Bank remains a country with growing instability that was lately exacerbated by the violent raid of the Israeli settlers in the Kafr Malik. As long as there is a government that actively supports the growth of settlements, Palestinians are getting more and more vulnerable. International bodies should take action to end bloodshed and hold the perpetrators accountable. This should be geared towards securing the civilians and implementing the law at the international level. It is not an isolated crisis because it shows a bigger conflict in the region. Until justice is treated equally, peace will be out of reach, and violent crimes such as the Israeli settler attack that has characterized day-to-day life in the occupation will not stop.
