Leaders in Israel have expressed uncommon condemnation of a recent violent incident involving settlers in the West Bank.
This past Thursday, a riot erupted in Jit, an Israeli town close to the northern West Bank, resulting in the death of at least one Palestinian. Witnesses told The Associated Press (AP) that a group of masked settlers stormed the village, causing extensive damage to homes and vehicles, and discharging live ammunition.
The chaos led to homes being set ablaze, and residents reportedly had to defend themselves for over an hour, as per the AP report.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to X, formerly Twitter, to address the riots, stating, “I take seriously the riots that took place this evening in the village of Jit, which included injury to life and property by Israelis who entered the village.”
He emphasized, “Those who fight terrorism are the IDF [Israeli Defense Force] and the security forces, and no one else. Those responsible for any criminal act will be caught and prosecuted.”
Other officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, also reacted strongly, remarking that while soldiers are on the front lines defending Israel, “a group of radical individuals have launched a riot and attacked innocent people.” He insisted these actions do not reflect the values of the Samaria community.
Gallant further stated, “I fully support the IDF, ISA, and Israeli Police in fulfilling their roles and addressing this issue. Violent, radical riots are the opposite of every code and value upheld by the State of Israel.”
JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images
Israeli President Isaac Herzog also expressed his strong condemnation of the disturbances in Samaria, describing the perpetrators as an “extreme minority that harms the law-abiding community of settlers.” He stressed the need for law enforcement to act swiftly against such criminal behaviors.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza began following a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,250 individuals. Since then, the Gaza Health Ministry reports that the Palestinian death toll has exceeded 40,000.
Palestinians aspire to establish the West Bank, taken by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war, as the foundation of a future state—an objective that garners broad international support.
Amid the war’s escalation, tensions across the Middle East have heightened, particularly following the recent killing of Hamas Political Bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran during an Israeli strike.