JERUSALEM: Israel’s military chief pledged on Wednesday to halt settler violence in the occupied West Bank, following a wave of attacks targeting Palestinians in the territory.

On Tuesday, Israeli forces had arrested several settlers after clashes near Tulkarem, during which Palestinians were injured and property destroyed.

The military said it dispatched troops after “masked Israeli civilians attacked Palestinians and set fire to property in the area”, adding that four injured Palestinians were evacuated for medical treatment.

“We are aware of the recent violent incidents in which Israeli civilians attacked Palestinians and Israelis. I strongly condemn them,” army chief Lt Gen Eyal Zamir said in a statement issued by the military.

Zamir said the military “will not tolerate criminal behaviour by a small minority that tarnishes the law-abiding public. “These acts contradict our values, cross a red line, and divert the attention of our troops from their mission,” he warned.

“We are determined to stop this phenomenon and will act decisively until justice is served.”

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and more than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the Palestinian territory.

Some of these Israelis engage in violence against Palestinians, who complain that Israeli forces usually do not arrest settlers.

All settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law.

The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that October was the worst month for settler violence since it began recording in 2006, with 264 attacks that caused casualties or property damage.

Almost none of the perpetrators have been held to account by the Israeli authorities.

Israel’s army chief said that troops were operating “to prevent threats and harm to residents of the area”.

“We operate according to a clear principle: terrorism only meets the army… we are the defensive barrier between the terrorist organisations and Israel’s civilians,” Gen Zamir said.

Violence has surged across the occupied territory since the conflict in Gaza broke out in Oct 2023. At least 1,003 Palestinians have been killed in the region by Israeli forces or settlers since then.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2025