Israeli military releases investigation on disputed West Bank attack

An Israeli military report released on Wednesday examined a disputed West Bank attack, revealing that settlers who clashed with Palestinian residents in Tel village were uncoordinated and lacked approval from security authorities. The incident, which occurred on July 24 and left four villagers and two soldiers dead, has been labeled a terror attack by Israeli politicians, while Palestinian witnesses and officials claim the residents defended themselves against armed intruders.

Walid Zidan, head of the village council, stated that about 20 settlers entered the village in the morning, while residents came out to protect their homes and property. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry called the events a "massacre committed by settlers in partnership with the occupation forces." One soldier killed was from a nearby settlement's security squad.

The military report noted that the arriving force was insufficient for the violent scale, and other soldiers did not act optimally. The Tel area, south of Nablus, has become a hotspot of settler and Israeli military violence after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. Settlers frequently enter Palestinian towns, attacking residents and vandalizing property.

Israel's military rarely intervenes against Israeli attackers, and some soldiers have participated in the violence. Following the Tel clash, settlers launched attacks across the West Bank, accompanied by a major Israeli military operation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for action against Tel residents and the construction of more settlements.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich demanded the village resemble destroyed refugee camps. Israel's opposition, including former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Democrat Yair Golan, labeled the clash as a terror attack. Israel has since allocated over $50 million to settlements, and the Supreme Court temporarily froze a transfer package to investigate potential procedural errors.