Israeli settlers carried out punitive raids after two Israelis were shot dead in Huwara in the northern occupied West Bank. One Palestinian was killed and hundreds more injured. Calm has returned to the city, but the scars of this explosion of violence are still clearly visible.
Dozens of charred carcasses are piled up in a dusty parking lot, some of the vehicles burned last night. On Sunday February 26, two Israelis were shot dead in Huwara in the northern occupied West Bank. In the evening, Israeli settlers carried out punitive expeditions in revenge.
Youssef, a transporter, saw his truck and three cars on fire. Eyes red with tiredness and sadness, he nervously puffs on his cigarette and surveys the damage. “They came from Itsar settlement. They burned down the house there. Look further, they also burned down the other house, it’s still smoking. What a disaster, they burned everything to ashes, there are millions of casualties. “
“They did all this under the protection of the Israeli army.”
Youssef, transporter in the occupied West Bank
at franceinfo
One Palestinian killed, hundreds injured
On Sunday evening, the Israeli army occupying most of the West Bank barely moved. The army protected Palestinian civilians but remained passive in the face of unleashed settler violence. The latter attacked property and people armed with stones or firearms. One Palestinian was killed and around 100 others injured in Huwara and the surrounding towns.
Ata is upset. “The settlers were armed. They fired live ammunition. There was tear gas. My children didn’t sleep a wink all night. They’re scared. My youngest son didn’t leave my arms, he’s scared. Scared! We watched helplessly our property has been destroyed. If you dare intervene, they will kill you.”
A house in Huwara was burned down by Israeli settlers. (RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)
Even Ali Abderamane, a veteran first responder with the Palestinian Red Crescent, still finds it hard to believe. “Tonight was war in full force. We couldn’t even move to save people. The Israeli army and the settlers blocked our way. The city was engulfed in tear gas and smoke from the fires. Tonight was war, war!”
“I’ve been a rescuer since 1999 and I’ve never seen anything like it. Tonight was war, war!”
Ali Abderamane, Palestinian Red Crescent First Responder
at franceinfo
Ever since these punitive expeditions by Israeli settlers, the Israeli army has patrolled the city to protect the settlers, who roam freely in the area, even if it means stopping the Palestinians from coming and going. For them, these restrictions will last at least three days.