A dramatic escalation of settler violence unfolded across the West Bank over the weekend, with hundreds of Israeli settlers accompanied and protected by Israeli occupation forces raiding Islamic religious sites, attacking Palestinian civilians, and assaulting international journalists in a series of coordinated incidents that have left dozens wounded and heightened tensions across the territory.
The most brazen attack occurred early Sunday in the village of Awarta, southeast of Nablus, where local and security sources reported that hundreds of settlers overran religious sites, performing Talmudic rituals at the location. The incursion was preceded by the closure of the Deir Sharaf and Awarta checkpoints surrounding Nablus a move sources described as deliberate preparation for the settlers’ advance.
News Crews Come Under Attack
In an incident that drew immediate international attention, four journalists from NBC News were assaulted by masked Israeli settlers near Nablus on Sunday while interviewing a Palestinian family. The crew had been speaking with 51-year-old Aida Ahmed Abdullah and her relatives when at least four masked assailants descended upon them with sticks and rocks, smashing equipment and damaging their vehicle before fleeing the scene.
Earlier, in the village of Jalud, a separate journalist crew suffered a similar assault. Local reports indicated that settler attackers targeted citizen Mahmoud al-Tubasi, his wife, and the news team shattering the crew’s vehicle and physically assaulting its members.
Elderly Sisters Brutalized in Fig Grove
In Silwad, northeast of Ramallah, two elderly sisters—Mona Hamid, 75, and Aaliya Mahmoud Hamid, 65 were attacked while harvesting figs from their grove. According to sources, the settlers stole their mobile phones and vehicle keys, leaving the women with bruises and wounds. The attack on the elderly siblings has sparked particular outrage among local communities.
Gunfire, Arson, and Besieged Homes
· In al-Mughayyir and Burqa, settlers again under the protection of occupation forces assaulted farms and residential areas, firing live rounds and damaging vehicles.
· Two citizens were wounded in Araba, south of Jenin, in a similar assault.
· In the al-Khalil governorate, an international solidarity activist suffered from suffocation, while multiple civilians sustained wounds and bruises during a settler attack in Khallat al-Hummus in Yatta.
· In Qusra, Nablus, occupation forces reportedly blocked an ambulance from reaching a besieged home where two Palestinians had been injured during a settler attack. Settlers also set fires on agricultural lands.
· In Yasuf, Salfit, settlers attacked homes while conducting provocative tours in the Khalayil al-Loz area of Beit Lahm.
British Activist Abducted on Camera
In a particularly alarming development, foreign activist Finn Joughlin—a British national—was abducted by Israeli settlers from the village of Umm al-Khair in Masafer Yatta, south of al-Khalil. Footage captured the moment settlers seized Joughlin after he intervened to protect Palestinian children during an attack. He was later taken into custody by occupation police.
‘Political Motives’ Behind Escalation, Analyst Warns
Amid the surge in violence which local sources say has displaced hundreds of Palestinians in recent days Israeli military analyst Avi Ashkenazi, a correspondent for Maariv, has raised concerns that certain elements within the current Israeli government may be deliberately stoking tensions in the occupied territories for political gain.
Ashkenazi suggested that escalating confrontation could serve the electoral interests of specific political figures, potentially boosting their representation in upcoming elections.
His analysis comes amid signs of political fragility for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A new Israeli Channel 12 poll published August 29 revealed that half of Israeli voters would back a bloc opposed to Netanyahu, while support for his governing coalition had dropped to just 31 percent. The survey, conducted 60 days before national elections, recorded a 27-point gap against Netanyahu when respondents were asked who was best suited to serve as prime minister—with 59 percent stating they did not want him to remain in office.
Source: Palestinian media (edited and translated by Al-Manar)