Ramallah/Tel Aviv, July 26 (dpa/GNA) – Israeli settlers attacked and injured a number of Palestinian workers early on Sunday near the city of Ramallah, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.
The attack took place on a stone-cutting facility in Kafr Mali east of Ramallah, where equipment was set alight during the raid, according to the report.
Palestinian media further reported that settlers had set two mosques, a house, and several vehicles in different parts of the West Bank on fire.
The Israeli military said it had received no reports of injuries linked to the incidents. It stated that troops had searched several locations for suspects who had allegedly set fire to a mosque and vehicles. The army also said it received a delayed report about another mosque that had been set alight.
According to the military, Israeli security forces plan to interview witnesses and collect evidence as part of their investigation. It condemned attacks and damage to religious sites.
Israeli occupying forces have repeatedly faced criticism for its inaction against extremist settlers attacking and sometimes killing Palestinians and damaging their property. There are relatively few reports of settlers being held accountable following such attacks.
Violence has escalated in the West Bank in recent days. On Friday, four Palestinians and two Israelis were killed in an armed confrontation. Following the incident, the Israeli military said it had arrested dozens of wanted suspects, including alleged members of Hamas, and had deployed additional troops to the occupied Palestinian territory.
Tensions across the West Bank have risen sharply since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza.
GNA