The village of Duma in the West Bank is reeling from a recent attack by Israeli settlers that left a trail of destruction in its wake. Charred homes and cars serve as stark reminders of the vulnerability faced by Palestinians in the face of rising violence.
According to the head of the village council, the three-hour attack in mid-April resulted in 15 homes being damaged by arson and six residents being injured by bullets. This incident was just one of nearly 800 settler attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since Hamas launched an attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
The village of Duma, home to over 2,000 people, is struggling to clean up and rebuild in the aftermath of the attack, which caused an estimated five million shekels ($1.3 million) in damage. This is not the first time Duma has been targeted by settlers, as a similar event occurred almost a decade ago, resulting in the deaths of three Palestinians, including an 18-month-old baby.
The recent wave of settler violence in the West Bank has been fueled by escalating tensions following the death of a 14-year-old Israeli boy. The United Nations reports that at least ten Palestinians have been killed by settlers in these attacks since October.
The international community, including the United States, has increased pressure on Israel to curb settler attacks in the West Bank. However, the chief of Duma remains skeptical that these efforts will be effective in protecting vulnerable Palestinian communities.