Violent Outburst in West Bank Results in Burned Cars, Homes, and One Fatality

August 16, 2024 TruthUSA

Israeli troops had to intervene to disperse masked rioters who attacked a West Bank village by setting fires and firing guns.

The incident occurred on Aug. 15 when rioters, some wearing masks, entered the village of Jit in the West Bank. The violent attack resulted in the burning of cars and the death of at least one individual. Another person sustained critical injuries from the gunfire, according to the Palestinian Authority Heath Ministry.

Residents reported that over a hundred rioters infiltrated the village, engaging in live ammunition shooting, arson, and destruction of property. Videos showed the village engulfed in flames as residents were left to fend for themselves for two hours before military assistance arrived.

Initially, a few residents attempted to fight back, but eventually, all villagers united to repel the attack, as recounted by Sufian Jit, a resident of the village.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) swiftly intervened following the report, as stated in an X post in Hebrew, to remove the rioters from the village.

The IDF later expressed condemnation for such incidents that distract them from their primary mission of counterterrorism and protecting residents’ security.

Moreover, an Israeli citizen was apprehended by security forces and handed over to the police.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the riot, emphasizing the need for severe action against those involved. He emphasized that counterterrorism efforts should solely be the responsibility of the IDF and security forces, and perpetrators would face legal consequences.

Netanyahu’s sentiments were echoed by Israeli president Isaac Herzog and defense minister Yoav Gallant, who criticized the attack and condemned the violence perpetrated by the settlers.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also disassociated the incident with the settlers and settlements, attributing it to criminal behavior that should be dealt with under the law.

The victim of the attack, Rasheed Mahmoud Abed Al Khadier Sadah, 23, was laid to rest on Friday.

Mourners carry the body of Rasheed Mahmoud Sadah, 23, during his funeral in the West Bank village of Jit, near Nablus, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Cease-Fire Talks

Internationally mediated cease-fire talks entered their second day in Qatar on Friday. Despite Hamas’s absence, negotiations were ongoing with the representation of Qatar and Egypt. A proposal aligning with President Joe Biden’s principles and UN Security Council resolution 2735 was presented with the aim of reaching a lasting agreement. The negotiations are progressing towards a three-phase plan involving hostage release, withdrawal of Israeli forces, and prisoner exchange.

The talks are critical amid escalating tensions post the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, raising concerns about potential Iranian retaliation. Meanwhile, humanitarian zones in Gaza are being evacuated following Hamas activity.

Gaza health authorities have reported significant casualties amid the conflict, while the IDF has pointed out the distinction between civilian and militant casualties.

(The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.)

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