Israeli Settlers Storm Palestinian Town in Response to Deadly Shooting in the Occupied West Bank

On Tuesday, June 21, 2023, violence erupted in the occupied West Bank when two Palestinian attackers opened fire at a restaurant and gas station near an Israeli settlement, killing four Israelis and wounding several other people before they were shot dead. In response, hundreds of Israeli settlers stormed the Palestinian town of Turmus Ayya the following day, setting fire to dozens of cars and homes in an act of revenge.

The Israeli military deployed additional forces across the occupied West Bank in response to the shooting, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to build 1,000 new settler homes. The settlers drove to the northern Palestinian towns of Hawara, Beit Furik, Burin and surrounding villages, setting dozens of cars on fire, hurling stones and trying to set homes ablaze, according to Nablus official Ghassan.

The incident has sparked outrage among Palestinians, who have accused the Israeli government of failing to protect them from settler violence. The Palestinian Authority has called on the international community to take action to protect Palestinians from settler attacks and to hold Israel accountable for its actions in the occupied West Bank.

The incident has also raised tensions between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, with both sides accusing each other of inciting violence. The Israeli government has accused the Palestinian Authority of inciting violence and has vowed to take action against those responsible for the attack. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority has accused Israel of using the incident to justify its continued occupation of the West Bank.

The situation in the occupied West Bank remains tense, and it is unclear how the situation will develop in the coming days. The international community is closely monitoring the situation and has urged both sides to exercise restraint and to work towards a peaceful resolution.