Iran: New Leader, Attacks, Acid Rain & Rising Death Toll

Three Palestinians were killed in a clash with Israeli settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Sunday, raising the number of Palestinians killed in recent days to six. The violence comes as much of the world’s attention is focused on the regional situation involving Iran.

West Bank Clashes Result in Palestinian Deaths

The Israeli military said it responded to reports of Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians near Khirbet Abu Falah, east of Ramallah. Two Palestinians were killed by gunfire and a third died from suffocation, likely due to tear gas, according to the military.

The victims were identified as Fare Hamayel and Thaer Hamayel, who were cousins, and Mohammad Murra. All three were buried in a joint funeral.

Amin Shouman, a resident of Abu Falah, told the Associated Press that dozens of Israeli settlers approached the village from the north and opened fire when confronted by a community guard committee.

The Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Ministry accused Israel of “exploiting the atmosphere of war” and the lack of international attention to intensify intimidation, violence and forced displacement.

Yesh Din, an Israeli rights group, tracked more than 50 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the first four days of the conflict with Iran.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said checkpoint and gate closures imposed as a result of the conflict were creating obstacles for first responders in the West Bank, including in incidents involving settler violence.

Following last year’s war, Israel has erected hundreds of new gates across the territory, tightening movement between Palestinian towns and making emergency response more difficult. The Red Crescent said there are now about 1100 gates, compared with roughly 800 at the time of last year’s war.