Settlers vandalized stores, homes and vehicles along Route 60 in the West Bank Palestinian town of Huwara on Monday in a violent attack that left three Palestinians injured.
The army said that "there was an altercation between settlers and Palestinians, in which several Palestinian vehicles and businesses in Huwara were damaged."
"The altercation began when a number of vehicles traveling in a convoy on Route 60 through the Huwara threw stones" causing extensive damage, the army said.
Police said it was investigating the incident.
Settlers from Yitzhar threw stones at Palestinians and vehicles in the West Bank town of Huwarra injuring at least 3 people including a 3yr old boy. The IDF said they are looking into the incident https://t.co/3bW1t32Vx5
— Anna Ahronheim (@AAhronheim) January 24, 2022
The left-wing NGO Yesh Din charged that the attack occurred in full view of the army, which often heavily patrols that section of Route 60, a road heavily used by both Israeli and Palestinian vehicles.
Anyone traveling in the area must use that road, which goes straight through the town and is flanked with stores and shops in that section of the route.
Yesh Din provided the media with photos and video from the attack.
It said that the group of settlers arrived in a convoy of cars accompanied by the IDF, from the direction of the Tapuah junction, and that the convoy played loud music.
The convoy stopped in Huwara, which is near Nablus. Those in the vehicles threw stones at Palestinian cars, stores and homes, shattering windows and injuring three Palestinians, Yesh Din said.
“In broad daylight, under the guise of protection from the soldiers, a convoy of settlers is conducting a pogrom against the Palestinians,” Yesh Din executive director Lior Amihai charged.
The event comes just days after settlers attacked left-wing activists in the same region of the West Bank, beating them with clubs and shovels and torching one of their vehicles.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz (Blue and White) condemned nationalistic violence.
“The recent incidents involving nationalistically motivated violence in Judea and Samaria are grave and I intend to act firmly against them. Whoever hurls rocks, ignites vehicles and uses weapons [for the purpose of violence] is a terrorist and will be treated as such,” Gantz said.
“I have recently initiated several meetings to discuss this issue, and we currently find ourselves at the height of the process to strengthen our troops on the ground, to build forces with the Police and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), and to determine operational and legal proceedings vis-a-vis such incidents.”