Dozens of Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian vehicles and homes in the village of Jab’a on March 27, 2023, following the demolition of illegal outpost structures by Israeli forces. This incident, which occurred approximately 15 kilometers (nine miles) southwest of Bethlehem, is part of a troubling trend of rising settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
Two geolocated videos show the aftermath of the attack, with multiple vehicles and a building engulfed in flames. Villagers, captured on video, struggled to extinguish the fires that damaged three inhabited homes and several vehicles. The head of the Jab’a village council, Diab Masha’leh, reported to the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, that while there were no reported injuries, the attack inflicted severe material damage on the community.
The violence follows a rare condemnation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described the perpetrators as “a small, extremist group that does not represent the settlers” in the West Bank. He emphasized his intention to address the situation personally, indicating a response to far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who supports settlement expansion.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the events in a statement, noting that after the evacuation of illegal structures in the area, “dozens of Israeli civilians set fire and vandalized homes and vehicles” in Jab’a. The IDF is currently conducting searches to locate individuals involved in the attack.
Violent clashes erupted earlier the same day between Israeli settlers and security forces during the demolition of several illegal outposts near Metzad, also known as Asfar, in the Gush Etzion bloc. According to a joint statement from the Israeli military and police, these outposts are illegal under both international and Israeli law. The clashes resulted in injuries among several Border Police officers and arrests of six suspects.
The joint statement reported that the Israeli security forces faced violent confrontations, including stone-throwing and the hurling of iron rods. As tensions escalated, the IDF reiterated its condemnation of violence, stating, “Violent incidents divert the attention of commanders and soldiers from defense and counterterrorism missions.”
In response to the unrest, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz expressed strong support for the IDF, emphasizing that attempts by “a small, violent, criminal group of anarchistic lawbreakers” to undermine security and tarnish the settler public will not be tolerated.
As the situation continues to evolve, the international community watches closely, with calls for accountability and an end to the cycle of violence affecting both Palestinians and settlers in the region.
