Israeli settlers set fire to homes in northern West Bank as military onslaught on Tulkarm rages

Hundreds of Israeli settlers, escorted by the regime troops, have stormed villages and set fire to Palestinian homes in the northern West Bank.

Media reports, quoting local sources, said settlers stormed the Palestinian village of Kifl Haris, near Nablus, on Friday.

Israeli forces sealed the village off in the early hours of this morning under the pretext of [the settlers] visiting religious sites.

Israeli settlers also stormed two other villages in the same area.

Local sources said settlers set fire to three Palestinian-owned homes and two vehicles in the village of Duma, south of Nablus.

They also sneaked their way into the village's Khirbet al-Marajim area, where they set ablaze three homes along with two vehicles.

The regime forces also fired live ammunition, tear gas, and sound bombs towards residents who attempted to reach the burning homes to extinguish the flames.

In al-Khalil, Israeli forces abducted six Palestinians while settlers attacked an archeological site and the agricultural crops.

Palestinian official news agency Wafa confirmed that settlers raided the archaeological site of Tell Ma'in, south of al-Khalil.

Israeli minister says Palestinian village Huwara should be ‘wiped out’

Israeli finance minister has called for the destruction of a village targeted by a recent deadly settler rampage.

The Israeli military fired sound bombs and tear gas against Palestinians staging a peaceful march for the reopening of the main road in the village of Kafr Qaddum, east of Qalqilya.

The Israeli military closed the main entrance of the village that connects it to Nablus with a permanent roadblock in 2003.

Plumes of smoke were seen rising in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin as Israeli forces continued demolitions.

Elsewhere in the West Bank, the city of Tulkarm and its refugee camp remains the scene of Israeli demolition and detention campaign for 47 days in a row.

Israel’s quick, deliberate destruction of the Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps has uprooted thousands of inhabitants and upended countless lives in days.

Israeli troops also stormed the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque where Palestinians gathered for dawn prayers in the holy month of Ramadan.

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says Israel’s restrictions on Palestinians at Al-Aqsa mosque constitute religious escalation and systematic targeting of Muslims’ rituals in the holy month of Ramadan.

Hamas has also called on Palestinians to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque co against efforts for its Judaization.

Since Israel’s assaults began on the West Bank on January 21, Israeli soldiers have forced at least 40,000 Palestinians from their homes.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk