Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said he would hold an urgent meeting with top security officials. He made this announcement after Jewish settlers attacked Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank.

He strongly condemned the violence. Katz said, “This phenomenon must be put to an immediate end. We will take all necessary measures and completely uproot this violence. No one will dare raise a hand against IDF soldiers and members of the security forces.”

Tensions Escalate After Village Attack

Earlier last week, Israeli settlers stormed a Palestinian village. As a result, tensions in the West Bank increased sharply. Over the following days, several violent clashes broke out between extremist settlers and Israeli troops.

On Sunday night, things turned worse. According to the Israeli military, dozens of settlers gathered near the Binyamin Regional Brigade base. Then, the protest became violent. They attacked soldiers, used pepper spray, and damaged military vehicles.

Crowd Turns Against Troops

Moreover, some of these settlers had already confronted troops on Friday. Soldiers had tried to stop them from entering a closed military zone near Kafr Malik, a Palestinian village. Once again, the settlers refused to follow orders.

In response to Sunday’s riot, Israeli security forces, including police and border guards, quickly intervened. They dispersed the crowd. However, one civilian got injured during the chaos.

Later that night, the army reported more trouble. Settlers vandalized a nearby security site. They even set fire to systems used to prevent terrorist attacks.

Ministers React Sharply

Meanwhile, top Israeli leaders reacted strongly. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on X, “Such events are unacceptable, and offenders must be severely punished.” He added that the IDF works hard to protect Israeli citizens and should be supported, not harmed.

Likewise, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned the attacks. He called it a “red line” and demanded a full police probe.

Rights Groups Express Concern

For years, human rights groups have raised concerns over settler violence in the West Bank. They say such acts often go unpunished. Since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and the war in Gaza, settler attacks have increased.

Now, for the first time in recent memory, settlers have turned against their own soldiers. Therefore, even pro-settler politicians are urging strict action.

Ultimately, the Israeli government has vowed to protect its troops and stop all forms of internal violence.