In Tel Aviv, Israel, a significant disturbance unfolded as numerous Israeli settlers stormed a military base located in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. During this incident, they set fires, vandalized military equipment, spray-painted graffiti, and attacked soldiers, bringing heightened tension to the region.
The upheaval occurred on Sunday night amidst the backdrop of recent violent activities carried out by Jewish settlers in the West Bank. This unrest was further fueled by the detention of these settlers by security forces in attempts to quell the mounting violence. On Wednesday evening, over 100 settlers infiltrated Kfar Malik, a West Bank town. In doing so, they ignited properties and opened fire on Palestinians who resisted their advance. Najeb Rostom, the head of the local council, reported that three Palestinians lost their lives after the military stepped in. Subsequently, Israeli forces apprehended five settlers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explicitly denounced these actions, stating that no civilized nation should tolerate such destructive conduct against military facilities and personnel. “No civilized country can tolerate violent and anarchic acts of burning a military facility, damaging IDF property, and attacking security personnel by citizens of the country,” Netanyahu emphasized.
Israeli media footage depicted scores of young, religious men associated with the “hilltop youth”—an extremist faction of Israeli settlers known for occupying West Bank hilltops and launching attacks on Palestinians. The footage revealed Israeli security forces deploying stun grenades as the settlers amassed near a military base north of Ramallah. The military further shared images illustrating the destruction, which included critical infrastructure integral for counter-terrorism efforts and maintaining security.
In a rare move, Far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has previously defended Israelis accused of similar incidents, condemned the violence witnessed on Sunday. He labeled the attack on security entities a significant breach, urging for stringent measures against such acts. “Attacking security forces, security facilities, and IDF soldiers who are our brothers, our protectors, is a red line, and must be dealt with in full severity. We are brothers,” Ben-Gvir expressed.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid remarked on the underlying governmental support allegedly backing these riots, likening the responsible parties to criminals deemed “Jewish terrorists” by his narrative. The volatile political landscape is complex, with Ben-Gvir—a staunch advocate for Jewish settlements and previously convicted of racist incitement—garnering increased influence and reflecting a rightward tilt in Israeli politics.
In response to the turmoil, Defense Minister Israel Katz pledged to eliminate such violence decisively. He called on extremist settlers to remember the sacrifices of security forces, many of whom are fatigued reservists. Over the past two years marked by the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, Palestinian inhabitants in the West Bank have reported significant upticks in Israeli checkpoints and delays. Israel maintains these measures are necessary due to an increase in threats originating from the West Bank.
The 1967 Mideast war resulted in Israel capturing the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem—territories Palestinians aspire to for a prospective state. Presently, the West Bank houses approximately 3 million Palestinians, subject to the persistent Israeli military rule, alongside 500,000 Jewish settlers. The international community generally deems these settlements illegal.