Six Israeli civilians have been detained after assaulting soldiers in the occupied West Bank, according to the Israeli military. The incident occurred near the village of Kafr Malik, where tensions have flared following a deadly settler attack earlier in the week.
According to the military statement issued on Saturday, the soldiers had been dispatched overnight to disperse a gathering of Israelis near the village. The situation escalated when dozens of Israeli civilians allegedly hurled stones at the soldiers and physically assaulted them, including a battalion commander. Military vehicles were vandalised, and some of the civilians reportedly attempted to ram security forces with their vehicles.
The military said it dispersed the crowd and handed six detainees over to the Israeli police. The identities of those arrested have not been disclosed, and the military declined to confirm whether they were settlers.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz strongly condemned the attack, urging law enforcement to act swiftly to bring all perpetrators to justice.
The violence near Kafr Malik follows a deadly incident on Wednesday, in which the Palestinian health ministry reported that three Palestinians were killed during a settler attack. Hundreds attended the victims’ funerals on Thursday.
The Palestinian foreign ministry accused Israel of complicity in the attack, claiming that Israeli forces obstructed emergency responders, allowing fires set by settlers to destroy dozens of homes. The Israeli military acknowledged that Israeli civilians had set property ablaze and that a confrontation involving stone-throwing broke out. They claimed that Palestinian gunmen fired on soldiers, prompting return fire.
Five Israelis were arrested following Wednesday’s events but were reportedly released the next day. Israeli police have not commented.
The surge in settler violence comes amid growing international criticism and concerns over the expansion of settlements, which are deemed illegal under international law. Since Israel’s offensive in Gaza began after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, violence in the West Bank has intensified. According to Palestinian authorities, 945 Palestinians have been killed, while Israel reports 34 of its own civilians and soldiers killed in West Bank-related incidents during the same period.
The ongoing escalation continues to strain the fragile security situation in the region.
