RAMALLAH – A violent clash broke out in the West Bank town of Kafr Malik on Wednesday after dozens of Israeli settlers attacked the area, leading to the deaths of three Palestinians. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, seven others were also wounded during the confrontation northeast of Ramallah.
The Israeli military said settlers set fire to property, prompting army and police forces to respond. An exchange of stone-throwing occurred before some Palestinians allegedly opened fire. In retaliation, Israeli troops returned fire, resulting in three deaths. Five Israeli suspects were arrested, and one army officer suffered light injuries.
Footage circulating online showed at least two vehicles set on fire, though Reuters could not independently verify the video. The attack is the latest in a series of escalating tensions across the West Bank amid ongoing violence in the region.
Hussein al-Sheikh, deputy to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, strongly condemned the incident. He accused Israel of pushing the region toward an explosion and urged the international community to step in and protect Palestinian civilians from increasing settler attacks and military raids.
Earlier that day, Israeli forces also shot and killed a Palestinian boy during a separate raid in Al-Yamun, a town west of Jenin. The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed the fatality and reported growing fears among residents.
Meanwhile, violence in Gaza continues to intensify. Health officials told Al Jazeera that 14 more Palestinians were killed Thursday morning, raising the Gaza death toll to over 90 in just 24 hours. Since the war began, at least 56,156 people have been killed and more than 132,000 wounded in Gaza, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry.