Settlers torch cars in Huwara

Video footage verified shows cars ablaze in Huwara in the occupied West Bank after Palestinians reported overnight attacks by Israeli settlers on several communities near Nablus. Eyewitnesses said settlers advanced through olive groves, set fire to an auto‑repair business and then moved to the nearby highway, torching vehicles. The Israeli military said soldiers responded to reports of Israeli civilians throwing rocks at Palestinian vehicles and setting property alight, and that searches were carried out overnight but no suspects were found.

The incident is part of a broader surge in unrest across the West Bank despite a ceasefire that largely ended the Gaza war in October. In a separate pre‑dawn operation near Ramallah, Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinian teenagers, identified as 16‑year‑old Sami Ibrahim Mashaikha and 18‑year‑old Amr Khaled Al‑Marboua. Local residents said units entered Kfar Aqab before dawn, positioned on streets and rooftops and opened fire. Israeli police said officers fired at four individuals they judged to pose an “immediate threat.” Palestinian officials and families called for independent investigations and accountability over the use of lethal force.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would meet with cabinet ministers to ensure Israelis involved in attacks on Palestinians are brought to justice, describing the perpetrators as a “small, extremist group.” Mourners gathered near Ramallah for the slain teenagers, highlighting the human cost of escalating confrontations. Rights groups and international observers warned that the West Bank is becoming an increasingly dangerous flashpoint outside Gaza, noting a rise in settler assaults, military raids and clashes with security forces that have left civilians, including minors, among the casualties.

The verified Huwara footage shows terrain and vehicles consistent with the location, bolstering Palestinian accounts of settler arson. Israeli authorities deferred detailed comment to the Border Police, which did not immediately respond to requests for further information. The military said it conducted searches following reports of attacks but found no suspects.

Observers and advocacy groups urged thorough, transparent inquiries into both settler violence and military operations, and called for measures to protect civilian populations on both sides. They warned that without meaningful de‑escalation, the cycle of retaliatory attacks and raids could produce more fatalities and deepen instability. The incidents have prompted renewed international concern over the West Bank’s trajectory, with appeals for restraint, accountability and concrete steps to prevent further civilian harm amid rising tensions.