The Israeli teenager Binyamin Achimair was found dead in the West Bank, leading to clashes between Israelis and Palestinians that left dozens wounded. Israeli extremists reportedly stormed Palestinian villages, attempting to burn property and clashing with residents. The Israeli military stated that Binyamin had been “murdered in a terrorist attack,” further escalating tensions in the already volatile region.
After Binyamin’s disappearance, armed Israeli settlers stormed a Palestinian village near Ramallah, resulting in the death of one Palestinian man and injuries to at least 25 others. Reports of Israeli reprisals have raised concerns about increased violence in the West Bank, where Israeli settlers and Palestinians coexist. The Israeli military announced plans to bolster forces in the area with additional companies and police.
Israeli mob assaults occurred in Al Mughayir and Duma, with armed settlers entering the villages, setting buildings and cars on fire, and reportedly opening fire. Israeli soldiers were accused of protecting the settlers and firing tear gas at residents. The clashes left at least three Palestinians wounded, with one in critical condition according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Israeli settlers allegedly caught and beat Israeli photojournalist Shaul Golan, destroying his equipment when he attempted to film them in Al Mughayir. Some settlers were reportedly masked, while others wore Israeli military uniforms. The violence prompted calls for authorities to protect residents from further attacks.
The Biden administration has urged Israel to crack down on violence by extremist settlers and has imposed sanctions on those involved in attacks on Palestinians. Israeli leaders criticized these actions as interference in internal affairs. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “close accounts” with whoever killed Binyamin, while opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned the murder and the settler attacks.
Criticism has been directed at Israeli authorities for not doing enough to prevent violent attacks by settlers against Palestinians, with human rights groups highlighting the lack of arrests for these incidents. An attack by Israeli settlers in Huwara last February resulted in the death of one Palestinian and injuries to 390 others, with buildings and cars being set on fire. The incident has further heightened tensions in the West Bank and raised concerns about ongoing violence.
