Palestinians wake up to mass damage after settler riot in Huwara

According to Palestinians, 75 homes were damaged, 35 burned to the ground in arson by settlers on rampage after terror killing in West Bank town; IDF deploys more forces to area in anticipation of additional violence
Ynet|
Palestinians from the West Bank town of Huwara woke up Monday to a horrifying image of burned-down homes and cars, trying to grasp the extent of the damage following a massive riot by settlers, carried out in retaliation to an earlier terror attack.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter

  • Palestinian sources said that some 75 homes were damaged during a riot on Sunday night, with 35 of them burned to the ground. Some 95 cars were also destroyed by the flames.
    5 View gallery
    מכוניות שרופות בחווארה
    מכוניות שרופות בחווארה
    Burned buildings, cars in Huwara
    (Photo: Ido Erez)
    During the riots - which broke out after the terror attack that killed two brothers from the settlement of Har Bracha near Nablus - one Palestinian was killed, and hundreds were wounded, many from smoke inhalation.
    Just six of the rioters were arrested after the worst outbreak of settler violence in recent history.
    According to the Palestinian authorities, 66 Palestinians died in the two months since the beginning of 2023, from IDF or settler gunfire, a staggering figure that causes concern among Israeli security officials.
    5 View gallery
    מכוניות שרופות בחווארה
    מכוניות שרופות בחווארה
    Burned cars in Huwara
    (Photo: Ido Erez)
    At the same time, 13 Israelis died in terror attacks in the past month alone, prompting the military to bolster troop deployment to the area, with three new battalions arriving on Monday.
    The Palestinian town of Huwara, just south of Nablus is a main thoroughfare used by both Palestinians and settlers. Friction there is unavoidable and occurs on nearly a daily basis.
    Images of the town, the morning after the settlers' rampage show much destruction.
    5 View gallery
    הרס בחווארה
    הרס בחווארה
    Burned cars in Huwara
    (Photo: AFP)
    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the rioters to end their violence in a video post on social media, but his request was ignored.
    Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also posted a call for the rioters to cease their rampage, but only hours after they began setting fire to homes and property.
    Earlier, Smotrich "liked" a social media post by Samaria Regional Council Deputy Mayor David Ben Zion, in which he said that Huwara should be whipped off the face of the earth in response to the earlier terror attack.
    5 View gallery
    מכוניות שרופות בחווארה
    מכוניות שרופות בחווארה
    Burned cars in Huwara
    (Photo: Ido Erez)
    National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, however, remained silent. The minister who is usually quick to comment on security matters did not condemn the violence of the settlers, many of whom are his constituents.
    Members of his Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, in fact, egged the settlers on.
    MK Limor Sonn Har Melech said she supports "the settlers' just outcry." Prominent settler leader Daniela Weiss asked in dismay, "Why should I call on them to stop?"
    5 View gallery
    מתנחלים הציתו אש בחווארה בעקבות הפיגוע
    מתנחלים הציתו אש בחווארה בעקבות הפיגוע
    Settlers set homes, property on fire in Huwara
    On Tuesday, another member of the party, Tzvika Fogel, said a burned Huwara is what he wants to see. He also called to arrest opposition leader Yair Lapid, who condemned the riots, for treason.
    Meanwhile, the identity of the Palestinian terrorist who murdered the two Jewish brothers, Hillel and Yagel Yaniv on Sunday, remains unknown. The manhunt to apprehend him continued on Monday.
    He apparently approached their car driving slowly in a traffic jam in Huwara and shot the two from point-blank range.
    Comments
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""