Israeli settlers go on a murderous rampage in the West bank town of Huwara.
On 26 February 2023, hundreds of Israeli settlers went on a violent late-night rampage in Huwara and other Palestinian villages in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, leaving one civilian dead and 100 other Palestinians injured, four critically, and the town ablaze. It was the worst attack stemming from Israeli settler violence in the northern West Bank in decades.
IDF forces stood and watched, without interfering.
The rampage was to avenge the shooting deaths of two Israelis, the brothers Hallel and Yagel Yaniv, who were killed by Palestinians while driving through the town.
Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fuchs, head of the military’s Central Command in charge of the West Bank, said the army was not prepared for the intensity of the Hawara violence, which he called “a pogrom done by outlaws.”
Knesset member Zvika Fogel said the pogroms were a success and urged more of them: “the deterrence that was achieved yesterday following these so-called pogroms hadn’t been achieved in the West Bank since Operation Defensive Shield.”
Prosecutors called for an investigation of Zvika Fogel. Israeli National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far right politician, accused the state prosecution of bias against the right wing.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, said “The village of Hawara needs to be wiped out. I think that the State of Israel needs to do that – not, God forbid, private individuals”
The European Union said it was “alarmed by” the violence in Hawara.