Following the alleged murder of a Palestinian man in the West Bank, two Israelis have been detained and are being questioned, along with five other people, according to a statement from the Israel Police on Saturday.
Israeli settlers who attack Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are rarely detained. Even if they are arrested, they are nearly never charged.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported late Friday that an Israeli settler had shot and killed a Palestinian man in the village of Burqa, which is located close to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
It is the second time this year that the Ministry has claimed that settlers had killed a Palestinian villager, despite the fact that both Palestinian officials and international observers frequently record settler violence against Palestinians.
According to the ministry, Israeli settlers attacked Qusai Jamal Maatan’s hamlet and shot him in the neck, killing him instantly. He was 19 years old. According to the ministry, two further people were hurt.
Maatan was laid to rest early on Saturday.
In a statement, the IDF stated that they responded in response to reports of “violent clashes between Israeli civilians and Palestinians,” and that “it was reported that during the clashes, Israeli civilians shot towards the Palestinians and as a result, there was a Palestinian casualty.”
The IDF also stated that rocks were allegedly thrown at Israeli civilians, injuring them.
The Shomron (Samaria) Council, which speaks for settlers in the northern West Bank and ordinarily avoids making statements on Shabbat, made no immediate comments.
An Israeli shepherd was being harassed by Palestinian villagers when the settler who shot the Palestinian opened fire, according to a legal assistance organisation that represents settlers.
The shepherd from Oz Zion, a settler outpost, was intimidated by Palestinians from Burqa, which is against both Israeli and international law, according to Honenu, the legal organisation.
Several Palestinians attacked the Israelis with clubs, fireworks, and rocks after the shepherd appealed for additional settlers “to prevent deterioration,” according to Honenu.
According to Honenu, one of the settlers was struck in the head “at point blank range and was seriously injured,” but he was able to defend himself using a licenced rifle he was carrying.
According to Honenu, the man has been placed under arrest and is currently recovering in intensive care at the Shaare Zedek Medical Centre in Jerusalem.
According to Honenu, the second detained Israeli settler assisted in getting him to the hospital.
“My client acted according to the law, and as is required of any licenced firearm holder – to protect his life and the lives of other civilians,” Honenu attorney Nati Rom said.
According to a statement issued by the Israeli military, both Israelis and Palestinians threw stones during the altercation in the West Bank.
While Israel Police and the Shin Bet security agency (ISA) continue their investigations, the army has declared the region a closed military zone.
The incident was classified as a “terrorist attack” by the US State Department.
We strongly condemn yesterday’s terrorist act by Israeli extreme settlers that killed a 19-year-old Palestinian, it was stated in a message posted on Twitter, now known as X.
“The US expresses its sincere condolences to his family and friends. We observe that Israeli authorities have detained several people and demand complete responsibility and justice.
Attacks carried out by what they termed to as “organised and armed terrorist settler militias” against unarmed Palestinian civilians of Burqa were harshly denounced by the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.
The ministry expressed worry about the absence of effective retaliation for settler attacks on Palestinian communities, claiming that these occurrences have given settlers more motivation to commit more crimes. The ministry charged incitement against Israeli government ministers and their supporters.
Two of the parties in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government are largely backed by settlers, Israelis who live in the West Bank to strengthen their nation’s control over the Palestinian region. International law considers settlements to be unlawful. Israeli claims that the West Bank is “disputed,” not “occupied,” and refutes the assertion that the settlements are unconstitutional.
With roughly 600 such events reported during the first half of the year, the United Nations issued a warning last month about a sharp increase in attacks by West Bank settlers against Palestinians and their property.
According to the UN humanitarian organisation OCHA, 591 settler-related incidents that caused Palestinian fatalities, property damage, or both throughout the area during the first half of 2023 were documented.