Credited from: DAWN
Israeli settlers reportedly launched a pre-dawn attack on the Christian Palestinian village of Taybeh in the occupied West Bank, leading to the destruction of vehicles and the spray-painting of threatening graffiti. A witness, Jeries Azar, described seeing his own car on fire as settlers threw objects toward his house, expressing fear for his child's safety during the assault. The Palestinian Authority labeled the incident as a "terror attack," stating that it targeted Palestinian property broadly, according to SCMP and TRT.
The attack occurred around 2am, with the Palestinian Authority reporting that several vehicles were set ablaze. Azar, also a journalist, conveyed his sentiments of terror, recalling the tragic story of the Dawabsheh family, who perished in a similar incident in 2015. Israeli police confirmed a joint military operation in the area but noted that no suspects were apprehended, citing an active investigation, according to Dawn and TRT.
The assault on Taybeh has provoked widespread condemnation, with the Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry denouncing it as "settler terrorism." Additionally, German ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, expressed his outrage on social media, stating, "These extremist settlers may claim that God gave them the land. But they are nothing but criminals abhorrent to any faith," reinforcing international disapproval of the increasing violence against Palestinian communities, according to SCMP and Dawn.
Taybeh, home to approximately 1,300 mostly Christian Palestinians, many of whom hold US dual citizenship, has been the target of such attacks in recent months. This village, known for having the oldest brewery in the Palestinian territories, is situated amid an environment of escalating tensions and violence, underscoring the risks faced by its residents. Recent months have seen settler violence lead to damage not only to property but also posing threats to life and community stability across the region, according to Dawn and TRT.