Israeli settlers shoot at Palestinian workers in occupied West Bank city

Israeli settlers shoot at Palestinian workers in occupied West Bank city
Israeli settlers snuck into the village of Burqa in the occupied West Bank and attacked Palestinian construction workers.
2 min read
09 September, 2020
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 [Getty]

A group of Israeli settlers attacked a group of Palestinian construction workers in the occupied West Bank this week, including with guns, the Palestinian Authority reported.

Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian Authority official who monitors illegal settlement activities in the occupied West Bank, told the Palestinian Authority’s news agency WAFA that settlers snuck into the village and attacked construction workers with stones.

The attack happened at the entrance of the village of Burqa to the north of Nablus on Tuesday evening.

They then fired indiscriminate shots near the entrance of the village entrance before local Palestinians intervened to keep away their attack, leading to clashes. No injuries were reported.

"Settler violence has long since become part of Palestinians’ daily life under occupation. Israeli security forces enable these actions, which result in Palestinians casualties – injuries and fatalities – as well as damage to land and property," said Israeli rights Group B'Tselem.

Read also: Israeli forces shoot deaf, mute Palestinian at Jerusalem checkpoint

"In some cases, they even serve as an armed escort or even join in the attacks. Investigations, if even opened, are usually closed with no action taken against perpetrators as part of an undeclared policy of leniency. The long-term effect of this violence is the dispossession of Palestinians from increasing parts of the West Bank, making it easier for Israel to take over land and resources," they added.

Israel has occupied the West Bank illegally since 1967, and commits various abuses against Palestinian civilians, human rights groups say.

More than 600,000 Israeli Jews live in settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, in constructions considered illegal under international law.

The Oslo agreement of 1995 divided the occupied West Bank into three: Area A, Area B and Area C.

Area A is under the administrative and security control of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Area B's administration is controlled by the PA, with Israel controlling security. Area C is under full administrative and security control of Israel.

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