Israeli settlers rampage across West Bank torching homes and cars

Dozens of Israeli settlers rampaged across the occupied West Bank overnight on Saturday, torching cars and houses.

Video footage showed the villages of Jalud, Fandaqumiya, Silat ad-Dhahr and Qaryut with buildings on fire, and residents scrambling to try to evacuate those inside.

The Israeli army reported on Sunday a spate of arson attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank the previous night.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said three people were injured after being beaten by settlers in the village of Jalud. Six others were injured from beatings in villages near Jenin.

The Palestinian news agency Wafa said several Palestinians were injured in the attacks. No arrests have been made.

The Israeli army said the attacks came after an Israeli civilian died on Saturday "following a report received regarding a Palestinian vehicle that hit an Israeli vehicle".

"Last night, IDF and border police forces were dispatched to several Palestinian villages... following reports of Israeli civilians committing acts of arson against structures and property, as well as engaging in disturbances in the area," the military said.

Six Palestinians have been shot dead in settler attacks in the West Bank since 1 March, according to the Palestinian Authority.

Attacks on Palestinians by settlers in the West Bank have risen dramatically since the beginning of the war on Gaza in October 2023.

According to an AFP tally based on Palestinian health ministry figures, Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 1,050 Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war.

Israel says 45 Israelis, including soldiers and settlers, were also killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military attacks in the West Bank during that time period.