Four Palestinians, Two Israelis Dead in West Bank Clash; Israeli Army Raids Nablus Hospital, Netanyahu Orders Troop Surge

The deadly clash in Tell

Four Palestinians from the same family were killed and at least three others wounded seriously when Israeli settlers entered the village of Tell, southwest of Nablus, on Friday morning. The dead were Farouq Adnan Ali Ramadan, Ibrahim Hussein Ali Ramadan, Jawad Hussein Ali Ramadan, and Imran Ahmad Ali Ramadan, shot by Israeli military fire, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Two Israelis also died: Benayahu Mellet, 32, a settler and member of the Havat Gilad settlement security team, and Major Yuval Ezra, 27, from Herzliya.

The Israeli army said a group of civilians hiking near Tell were attacked by Palestinians, and that a Palestinian snatched a weapon from a guard and opened fire before being killed. Local Fatah official Essam Saifi told Reuters a different story.

Between 25 and 30 settlers attacked the eastern area of the village first. When residents came out to confront them, the settlers opened fire and withdrew. Half an hour later they returned and attacked the western side, sparking chaotic shooting that drew in the army.

Hospital raid and medical blockade

Hours after the clash, Israeli troops surrounded and stormed the Nablus Specialist Hospital. Dani Al Masri, vice-chairman of the hospital’s board, said soldiers entered the emergency department, assaulted staff, and even handcuffed doctors and nurses.

Israeli forces besieged the hospital, stormed the emergency department, assaulted medical staff, and even handcuffed doctors and nurses.

Two people were arrested and security camera recordings were seized. The army also attempted to blow open the administrative office door. Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHRI) reported that paramedics described villages around Nablus as cut off, with access gates sealed by road barriers and ambulances unable to reach patients. At least four cases, including patients with fractures, were awaiting evacuation with no way to leave.

Wave of settler attacks across the West Bank

The violence spread beyond Tell. In Sarra, south of Nablus, dozens of settlers attacked the town, wounding three residents and burning six houses and five vehicles, according to mayor Naaman Abdulá. In Aurif, settlers tried to torch homes and left one person hurt. In Al Jader, south of Bethlehem, cars belonging to Palestinians were torched. Five others were injured in Farata, east of Qalqilya. In Jericho, a Palestinian was stabbed after his car broke down on a road and settlers assaulted him. In Jenin, settlers hurled stones at the community of Jirbet Imreiha, wounding several.

The Palestinian Health Ministry raised its death toll for the occupied West Bank since the start of the year to 82 Palestinians, 21 of them killed by settlers.

Netanyahu orders military reinforcements

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened Defence Minister Israel Katz and announced a series of measures. The army was ordered to reinforce its West Bank deployment and launch “a wide anti-terrorist operation.” Netanyahu pledged to demolish the home of the Palestinian who seized the weapon and to “legalize” settlement outposts that currently break Israeli law.

In the immediate aftermath, the IDF mobilised five additional companies on Friday. Over the previous two weeks, it had already dispatched extra battalions to the area. The military said it detained more than 80 wanted suspects across Judea and Samaria during the past week. Road checkpoints were erected around Tell and Nablus, and entry to Nablus was blocked.