Clashes Escalate in South Hebron Hills as Settlers Attack Palestinian Homes and Palestinians Stone Jewish Shepherds

In the South Hebron Hills region, Palestinian residents report a series of violent attacks by settlers since last weekend, including stone-throwing, gunfire, physical assaults, and arson attempts. One incident occurred overnight between Saturday and Sunday near Wadi al-Rahim in Masafer Yatta, where settlers allegedly tried to set fire to a Palestinian home while children were inside. Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Jibril, a local resident, said settlers arrived around 2:30 a.m. carrying containers of flammable material and attempted to ignite the house, but the family managed to prevent the fire. He added that despite frequent police and military presence, the attacks continue unabated. Jibril also recounted previous assaults on his family, including a child exposed to gas and a two-year-old girl attacked with a stick.

Additional clashes were reported on Saturday afternoon. Abu Karim, a resident of Idna near Hebron, described settlers descending from a nearby hill around 5 p.m. to throw stones at his cousin's home. He also said a 14-year-old boy riding an electric bike was hit by a settler vehicle, causing him to fall before the assailants fled with the bike. Later, about 40 settlers reportedly attacked a family home in Wadi al-Rahim, throwing stones and firing shots, injuring several people including Muhammad al-Shanran, whose son was previously killed. Al-Shanran said the situation has worsened since October 7, with daily threats, fires, and shootings targeting Palestinians and their livestock. He also claimed settlers recently tried to seize a flock of over 200 sheep despite military and police presence.

Jewish residents in the area dispute some of these accounts, particularly regarding a video circulated online showing Israelis beating a Palestinian while a soldier restrained him. They claim the confrontation began when Palestinians threw stones at Jewish shepherds grazing nearby, prompting a military pursuit of the suspects. According to this version, the video only shows the moment settlers subdued a Palestinian after an attempted escape. The settlers also requested the Israeli military to close a road near Idna, which they say Palestinians frequently use to launch attacks.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that soldiers responded to reports of settlers setting fires near Khirbet Wadi Rahim and intervened in clashes involving stone-throwing between Israelis and Palestinians, which resulted in injuries to one Israeli and two Palestinians. The IDF stated that a Palestinian was shot and evacuated for medical treatment, but initial investigations indicate the gunfire was not from IDF forces. Police have since entered the area with military support to collect evidence and continue the investigation, with further handling transferred to the police.