In a violent raid early Monday morning, Jewish settlers torched at least 20 Palestinian-owned vehicles on the outskirts of Ramallah, according to residents. The incident, described as one of the boldest settler attacks in the area to date, occurred in Al Bireh, a neighborhood adjacent to Ramallah, which serves as the administrative center for the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank.
Witnesses reported that around a dozen masked settlers arrived around 3 a.m., armed with petrol bombs. In a swift and destructive assault, they set multiple cars ablaze. Ihab Al Zaben, a resident, recounted attempting to confront the group but was met with violence. “When we came down to try to extinguish the fire, they started shooting at us,” he stated. The fires also scorched the exterior of a residential building where several of the targeted cars were parked.
In response to the attack, the Israeli police, along with the Shin Bet security agency, launched an investigation after receiving reports of the widespread property damage, according to a police spokesperson.
The incident has drawn international condemnation, highlighting the persistent problem of settler violence in the West Bank. In particular, the United States has been outspoken against such acts, with some American officials urging Israel to curb attacks by settlers on Palestinian communities. Some governments, including the U.S., have implemented sanctions targeting settlers responsible for violence.
The Palestinian Authority (PA), headquartered in Ramallah, swiftly condemned the raid. In a statement, the PA described the incident as a “brutal attack by settler militias” and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for “comprehensive sanctions targeting the entire settler-colonial system.”
Meanwhile, Hamas, the Palestinian group controlling Gaza, reacted with strong language. Hamas official Abdul Rahman Shadid stated that the incident represents an escalation by settlers and called for “escalating the confrontation” in response.
Tensions have been high in the West Bank, an area Israel has controlled since the 1967 Middle East war. Jewish settlements have grown substantially in recent years, leading Palestinians to argue that these developments undermine the prospect of an independent Palestinian state, which they envision in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem.
Settler violence has been a rising concern, further intensified by the Gaza conflict that began just over a year ago. The attacks have continued despite increased calls from the international community for Israel to restrain violent actions from settlers.
In a recent interview, a settler leader voiced confidence that former U.S. President Donald Trump would lift sanctions against settlers if re-elected, a reference to Trump’s previous reversal of U.S. policy in 2019. That year, the Trump administration announced it no longer viewed the settlements as illegal under international law, a stance President Joe Biden has since reversed. Most countries, however, continue to regard the settlements as a violation of international law.
