A large, violent mob of armed Israeli settlers launched a coordinated assault on the Palestinian village of al-Jab'a southwest of Bethlehem on Monday evening, terrorizing residents and setting fire to homes and vehicles.

According to Diab Masha’leh, the head of the al-Jab'a village council, over 100 extremist settlers stormed the community and targeted several Palestinian homes. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos as the settlers, who face little to no opposition from the Israeli military, moved through the area.

"The settlers were everywhere, attacking our homes. They burned at least two of our cars while we were inside," one resident stated, describing a climate of fear and impunity.

The attack, which was later confirmed by even Israeli Army Radio, is believed to be a retaliatory act after Israeli authorities dismantled an illegal settler outpost earlier in the day. In a common pattern, settlers routinely exact a "price" from defenseless Palestinian communities for any Israeli government action they oppose, with violence and property destruction serving as their primary tools.

While Israeli media reported the burning of one home and four vehicles, along with one Palestinian injury, local sources fear the full extent of the damage may be higher. The same reports noted that large Israeli military forces were belatedly heading to the scene, a frequent occurrence where troops arrive after the bulk of the settler violence has concluded, rather than intervening to prevent it.

This latest incident underscores the entrenched climate of impunity enjoyed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinian civilians are consistently subjected to violence and intimidation as illegal settlements continue to expand on their land. (ILKHA)