A Palestinian man was shot dead during an attack by over 100 Israeli settlers on the village of Jit in the occupied West Bank on Thursday night. The settlers, some masked and armed, set fire to homes and vehicles, threw rocks, and used Molotov cocktails to terrorize residents, according to Palestinian officials. The victim, identified as 22-year-old Rashid Sedda, was killed by gunfire from the settlers, while another Palestinian man was critically injured.
BREAKING | Over 100 Israeli settlers storm the village of Jit near the occupied West Bank city of Qalqilya and burn Palestinian homes and cars. Injuries reported.
A critical bullet injury to the chest of a young man as a result of settlers shooting him, said the Red Crescent. pic.twitter.com/1Jm2lSljuV
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The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that they responded to the incident by firing shots into the air to disperse the crowd and arresting one individual. However, witnesses claimed that the Israeli soldiers provided cover for the settlers and hindered Palestinian civil defense from reaching the scene. The attack is part of an escalating series of violent incidents in the West Bank since the onset of the Israel-Gaza conflict in October. Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemning the violence and promising to hold those responsible accountable, Palestinian officials and analysts remain skeptical, citing a history of such investigations leading to little or no consequences for the perpetrators.
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