by Tzvi Joffre
With the Huwara shooting terrorist still at large, security forces have taken more measures to keep further violence from erupting.
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Israeli soldiers guard while Jewish men protest following
yesterday's deadly terror attack in Hawara, in the West Bank, near
Nablus, February 27, 2023
(photo credit: NASSER ISHTAYEH/FLASH90)
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Israeli settlers entered Huwara and began attacking Palestinians in the town again on Monday afternoon, less than a day after crowds of settlers torched homes and cars throughout the town in response to a shooting attack in which two Israeli brothers, Hillel Menachem Yaniv and Yagel Ya’acov Yaniv, were murdered.
Video from the scenes showed IDF soldiers firing tear gas to separate between settlers and the Palestinians.
Four brigades, including Sayeret Givati and the IDF Search and Rescue Brigade, were transferred to reinforce Israeli security forces in the West Bank on Monday, as tensions continued to rise and the manhunt for the terrorist behind the Huwara attack continued.
Overnight, settlers burned dozens of buildings and vehicles in Huwara and in additional locations around the West Bank.
Six of the dozens of settlers who participated in the riots were reportedly arrested overnight, but have almost all since been released.
Buildings that were set ablaze during the Huwara riots. (credit: TZVI JOFFRE)According to Palestinian reports, shopkeepers in Huwara were ordered by the IDF not to reopen their shops for the next few days as part of attempts to calm the situation in the area.
Defense Minister Yoav Galant visited Huwara on Monday afternoon, stressing that the defense establishment is expecting "complex, even difficult days," in the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
Galant called for calm, stating "There is no legitimacy to act from the gut. We must not under any circumstances allow a situation where people take the law into their own hands. I ask everyone to obey the instructions of the law and above all to trust the IDF and the security forces, we are doing our job."
According to KAN news, the commander of the IDF Benyamin Brigade was attacked by Jewish youth near Rimonim junction during the riots overnight. The courts decided to release the assailants on Monday, according to the report.
Extremist retaliation for Huwara violence
On Monday afternoon, incendiary balloons were launched from the Gaza Strip towards southern Israel, according to Palestinian reports. The balloon launches come after Palestinians in the Gaza Strip rioted along the border with Israel on Sunday evening in response to the violence in Huwara, burning tires near the border fence.
Three Palestinians were injured after being shot by Israeli forces during the riots along the Gaza border on Sunday night, according to Palestinian reports.
The Qatari envoy to the Gaza Strip, Mohammed al-Emadi, is set to arrive in Gaza on Tuesday evening, according to Palestinian reports.
Arab youth in east Jerusalem called for Arabs to gather at the Damascus Gate on Monday evening.
On Monday morning, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh ordered the formation of a ministerial committee to work to compensate those who suffered damages during the riots in Huwara and nearby areas.
"Yesterday, we lived through a horrific night in which settlers practiced the most heinous types of crime, including killing, burning, and terrorizing children and women. This crime will be added to the file of Israel's trial in international courts," said Shtayyeh.
UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland stated that he is "gravely concerned by the deteriorating security situation in the West Bank, particularly the violence witnessed in the past 24 hrs in Huwara."
Wennesland expressed his condolences to the Yaniv family and the family of the Palestinian killed during the ensuing riots in Huwara.
"There can be no justification for terrorism, nor for arson and acts of revenge against civilians. All perpetrators of violence must be held accountable. Violence, provocations and incitement must stop immediately and be unequivocally condemned by all," added Wennesland, calling on both sides to make efforts to address the core issues driving the conflict.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.
Tzvi Joffre
Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-732849
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