'Judea is awakening': settlers reportedly attack Palestinian village, torch homes

Near the southern West Bank town of Khirbet Tuba, a Palestinian village in the Masafer Yatta area, a settler group reportedly attacked residents on Wednesday night, according to Palestinian sources. The assault resulted in the injury of five individuals, including a woman and a child, who were promptly transported to a government hospital in Yatta for medical attention.

In addition to the physical injuries, the attackers targeted the village by setting fire to five buildings, damaging infrastructure, and even demolishing a structure. The vandalism extended to the village's solar energy system, which was also targeted. Graffiti stating "The land of Judea is awakening" was found at the scene, indicating the ideological motive behind the attack.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) were alerted to the incident and dispatched troops to Khirbet Tuba in response. Upon their arrival, the troops discovered the burned buildings, graffiti, and damaged property, with the suspects having fled the scene before they could intervene. The IDF subsequently dispatched police to the area to gather evidence for an investigation. The military expressed strong condemnation of such incidents, emphasizing their commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

A separate incident involving the IDF occurred in the Qalandiya refugee camp, located north of Jerusalem. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that ten people sustained injuries during an operation conducted by the IDF in that location. These events transpired shortly after the police announced that they would file an indictment against a 16-year-old from Beitar Illit. The indictment stemmed from the alleged assault of a Palestinian woman and the brutal abuse of an animal in Masafer Yatta during the previous month.