Israeli forces conducted raids across multiple West Bank towns including Dura, Sinjil, Jiljilya, Al-Mughayyir, Al-Lubban al-Sharqiya, and Burin, detaining dozens and using stun grenades and tear gas against residents [1, 2, 3]. During these operations, two Palestinian teenagers, Yousef Ali Yousef Kaabneh (16) and Fahd Zeidan Oweis (16), were killed by Israeli army fire near Jiljilya and Al-Lubban al-Sharqiya respectively [4, 5].
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers and armed occupiers attacked several Palestinian villages. They vandalized properties, stole about 700 sheep along with agricultural equipment, and set fire to Palestinian land and a mosque [1, 4, 2, 3]. In Jibiya, settlers burned vehicles and sprayed racist graffiti [3]. Palestinians and a foreign activist sustained injuries during these attacks [2].
Israeli security forces also arrested Israeli rights activists who were protesting settler violence in the West Bank [6].
These latest incidents come amid an ongoing surge in violence since October 2023. Over 1,155 Palestinians have been killed, about 11,750 wounded, and nearly 22,000 arrested during Israeli military and settler operations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem [1, 4, 2, 3, 5].
The Israeli government continues efforts to expand settlements. On May 10, the Knesset Ministerial Committee backed a bill to repeal the 1993 Oslo Accords, aiming to enlarge settlements into Areas A and B of the West Bank [7]. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the recent destruction of 3,000 Palestinian-planted trees as "building the Land of Israel and destroying the idea of a Palestinian state" [7]. Far-right parliamentarian Limor Son Har-Melech stated, "We promised to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, and now it is time to encourage settlement in Areas A and B and cancel the disastrous Oslo Accords" [7]. Justice Minister Yariv Levin added, "Just as we returned to Sa-Nur, we will return to other places" [7].
On May 12, Israeli forces uprooted 3,000 Palestinian-planted trees in the West Bank [7]. Raids on May 13 included towns such as Dura and Sinjil while violence escalated with the killing of Yousef Kaabneh near Jiljilya [1, 4]. On May 14, attacks intensified in Al-Mughayyir, Masafer Yatta, and Burin, causing injuries to Palestinians and foreign activists [2]. On May 15, settlers burned a mosque and vehicles and killed Fahd Zeidan Oweis in Jibiya and Al-Lubban al-Sharqiya [3, 5].
