Settlers seek revenge in Hebron
Palestinians in West Bank town say settlers initiate “revenge spree” to avenge murder of two boys in terror attack Friday. Rioters reportedly burn stores, beat up local residents; at least two Palestinians wounded
Police are looking into Palestinian reports of riots in Arab Hebron neighborhoods that included attacks on local residents, homes, and businesses.
Shortly afterwards, Hebron settlers began burning Palestinian-owned stores and businesses in the city and targeting Palestinian residents.
A group of settlers assaulted Bassam al-Atash around 9:30 a.m. local time. The Palestinian man sustained injuries to his entire body, and particularly to his head, and was taken to a Hebron hospital. However, before he arrived there, an Israeli ambulance picked him up and took him to Soroka hospital in Be’er Sheva.
Al-Atash reportedly sustained moderate to serious injuries in the attack.
Police say assailants escaped
Meanwhile, Palestinians reported at least one business was torched and said settlers attempted to set other businesses and homes on fire in Hebron’s Old City and around the Cave of the Patriarchs.
Later, Palestinians reported that a 23-year-old local residents was hurt in a clash with settlers and soldiers. The man was beaten up badly and was brought to hospital with injuries to his entire body, the sources said.
The Palestinians are saying they filed complaints with the IDF but charge nothing was done to restrain the rioting settlers. Police sources confirmed settlers rioted in the city and added the assailants escaped before police arrived at the scene.
Human rights group “Yesh Din” (Hebrew for “There is a law’) told Ynet “Hebron settlers are continuing their wild spree of violence aimed at pushing Palestinian residents away from the city’s center.”
The organization also called on security authorities to address the violence with determination and restrain the “criminals among the Hebron settlers.”
