An Israeli soldier shot and wounded a Palestinian man in the leg during a confrontation between settlers and villagers in the town of Faqqua in the occupied West Bank, eyewitnesses told the Guardian. The incident occurred when a group of settlers entered the area with livestock on Palestinian-owned land, prompting residents to intervene. Israeli forces opened fire, wounding Qassem Hussam, a man in his mid-30s.
The shooting is the latest in a series of incidents that have raised questions about Israel’s willingness to control settler violence. The United States envoy, Mike Huckabee, visited the region and described some settlers committing violence as “terrorists,” according to Al Jazeera. However, analysts said the visit was largely symbolic and unlikely to bring immediate change.
Separately, the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society reported that Israel arrested 100 Palestinians in the past week, including children, journalists, and a former prisoner released in a recent exchange deal. The arrests coincided with what Al Jazeera described as ongoing “pogroms” by settlers in the West Bank.
The events mark a sharp escalation in tensions, with the international community watching closely for further developments.