By Burnett Munthali
Scores of Israelis stormed the Palestinian village of Kafr Malik in the occupied West Bank in a violent rampage that left homes and vehicles engulfed in flames, according to eyewitnesses and local Palestinian officials.
The attack, which unfolded with terrifying speed and ferocity, involved the use of Molotov cocktails hurled at residential structures and property.
Several houses and cars were set ablaze in the raid, causing panic among residents who fled their homes to escape the flames and the assailants.
Local officials described the night as one of terror and destruction, noting that the assault came without any prior warning and left parts of the quiet village smoldering by morning.
The Israeli military confirmed the incident in an official statement, acknowledging that dozens of Israeli civilians had entered the Palestinian area and committed acts of arson.
Military officials stated that the perpetrators set Palestinian property on fire, but did not immediately indicate whether any arrests had been made.
This violent episode is the latest in a growing pattern of settler attacks on Palestinian communities in the West Bank, exacerbating already fragile tensions in the region.
Palestinian residents of Kafr Malik expressed fear and frustration, accusing Israeli authorities of failing to protect them from escalating settler violence.
Rights groups have long warned that impunity for such attacks fuels a dangerous cycle of aggression and retaliation in the occupied territories.
The attack on Kafr Malik drew swift condemnation from Palestinian officials, who accused Israel of permitting settler extremism to flourish under military occupation.
The assault comes amid a broader climate of heightened tension in the West Bank, where violence between settlers and Palestinians has surged in recent months.
As investigations continue, international observers are once again raising urgent concerns about the protection of civilians and the need for accountability.
The destruction in Kafr Malik is a grim reminder of the human toll of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the ongoing volatility of life under occupation.
