HEBRON, West Bank — A violent attack by Israeli settlers, allegedly supported by occupation forces, left multiple Palestinians injured, including an elderly couple and a three-month-old infant, in the village of Khirbet Khallet al-Dabe’ on Friday.
Eyewitnesses report that settlers from nearby illegal outposts stormed into the village, where they assaulted residents with sharp instruments under the watch of Israeli soldiers. Jaber Dababseh, a local villager, described the chaos as the attackers targeted homes, leaving destruction in their wake.
The assault reportedly resulted in severe injuries across several families. Ali Dababseh, aged 75, and his wife Amina suffered multiple fractures, head injuries, and bruises. Their relative, Abbas Dababseh, was stabbed, while his wife sustained fractures and additional bruising. The couple’s three-month-old daughter was exposed to toxic gas and suffered from suffocation. Several of their sons also experienced severe injuries, including broken bones.
In addition to these injuries, another villager, Hani Dababseh, was stabbed and hospitalized for his injuries. Reports indicate that dozens of residents received medical attention in the field following the attacks.
Osama Makhamra, an activist against settlement expansion, condemned the violence and called for international humanitarian organizations to intervene. He stated that the attackers not only harmed residents but also vandalized numerous homes, destroying property, water tanks, and solar energy systems essential for the village’s electricity supply.
Recent statistics indicate a troubling trend, with settler violence escalating in recent months. In August alone, there were 431 separate incidents attributed to settlers, primarily across the Ramallah, Nablus, and Hebron governorates. The violence is part of a broader pattern that has drawn increasing concern from human rights advocates and international watchdogs.
As tensions continue to rise in the region, the plight of communities like those in Masafer Yatta remains a focal point for activists who seek accountability and an end to violence against Palestinian residents. Calls for international intervention are growing in urgency as local populations increasingly find themselves at risk.