Clashes Erupt Between Israeli Settlers and Palestinians in West Bank Village

SINJIL, Palestinian Territories – 5 July 2025 (BSS/AFP): Tensions flared on Friday in the occupied West Bank as violent clashes broke out between Israeli settlers and Palestinian residents in the village of Sinjil, north of Ramallah. The confrontation occurred ahead of a planned Palestinian protest march against recent settler incursions and attacks on farmland in the area.

AFP journalists on the ground observed local residents and activists beginning their march when reports emerged of settlers gathering on a hillside belonging to the village. In response, Palestinian youths moved towards the hill, attempting to disperse the settlers by setting a fire at its base. From higher ground, settlers retaliated by hurling stones.

Local witnesses told AFP that settlers were also seen starting fires. Israeli military jeeps soon arrived at the scene, and soldiers fired warning shots into the air, prompting the Palestinians to retreat back into the village.

“Organised Attacks”

Anwar al-Ghafri, a lawyer and member of Sinjil’s municipal council, condemned the recurring incidents. “These attacks are not new, but they’ve grown more frequent in recent days,” he said. “A group of settlers, with the support and approval of the Israeli army, are carrying out systematic assaults on citizens’ lands. They beat farmers, destroy crops, and prevent people from reaching their fields.”

No representatives from the settler community involved in Friday’s clash were available for comment.

Fencing Sparks Isolation Concerns

Israeli authorities have recently installed a high fence separating parts of Sinjil from Road 60 — a major thoroughfare running the length of the West Bank and used by both settlers and Palestinians. The fencing has stirred strong resentment among residents.

Mohammad Asfour, a 52-year-old local, said the barrier is severing access to both land and neighbouring communities. “Sinjil is suffering terribly. My house and those of my brothers are near the fence,” he told AFP. “Settlers can enter Sinjil freely, but we — the people of Sinjil — are not even allowed to climb that hill.”

Similar gates and barriers have been erected in other Palestinian towns across the West Bank, heightening a sense of confinement among communities.

Violence Surges Since Gaza War

Violence in the West Bank has escalated significantly since Hamas launched its attack on Israel in October 2023, triggering the war in Gaza. According to the Palestinian health ministry, at least 947 Palestinians — including militants — have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers since then.

Israeli sources report that at least 35 Israelis have died in Palestinian attacks or during military operations over the same period.