IDF Condemns “Actions of Terror” by Israeli Settlers in the West Bank, One Palestinian Man Killed

Tensions in the West Bank remain high after a weekend of violence that saw Israeli settlers attack Palestinians and the death of a Palestinian man.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has condemned the attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank as “actions of terror,” an IDF official said Monday. At least one Palestinian man was killed, a Palestinian fire engine was stoned by a crowd of about 50 settlers, and other Palestinians were injured with stones or metal bars, Palestinian medical officials said Sunday.

The violence followed the fatal shooting of two Israeli brothers earlier in the day in the town of Huwara, south of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. This incident occurred days after a massive Israeli military raid into Nablus in search of wanted militants left at least 11 Palestinians dead.

The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that a 37-year-old Palestinian man, Sameh Hamdallah Mahmoud Aqtash, was shot and killed by Israeli fire. Aqtash was killed while trying to shut the village’s gate and shouting to the stone-throwing mob that the villagers didn’t want any trouble, his nephew Fadi Aqtash told NBC News in a telephone interview.

“They came in towards our houses and started shooting with no reason, shooting everywhere,” Aqtash said. He added that the attackers gathered in ever greater numbers and were joined by members of the army.

The IDF has urged both sides to exercise restraint and avoid further violence. The IDF has also called for an investigation into the attacks and the death of Aqtash.