Current Wars in the World See Over 100 Israeli Settlers Attack West Bank Village Jalud

Israeli settler violence continues in the occupied West Bank with over 100 settlers attacking the Palestinian village of Jalud, burning homes and clashing with soldiers, while military closures isolate Ramallah and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens amid ongoing strikes, as part of the broader regional conflicts involving Palestinian areas in the current wars in the world.

Settler Attack on Jalud Village

Over 100 Israeli settlers attacked the West Bank village of Jalud, burning two Palestinian homes, setting fires to buildings and vehicles, blocking roads, and throwing stones at security forces. [4] The attack occurred as Israeli forces escorted a Palestinian family back to their home in Jalud after they had been displaced by prior settler attacks two months earlier, preventing their return. [4] The Israeli military says over 100 Israeli rioters were in the area of Jalud during the night to Tuesday, and adds that soldiers and border police tried to separate them. [4] As a result of the clashes, three Israeli border patrol officers were lightly injured, and a vehicle was damaged, according to a statement from the Israeli military. [4] The Israeli military says the settlers had closed roads, set fire to tires and thrown stones at security forces, in addition to setting fire to Palestinian buildings and vehicles in Jalud. [4] The attack prevented the return of the Palestinian family, which had been driven out by several cases of nationalist crime against them. [4]

Israeli Official Condemnation and Response

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Herzog condemned the actions of what they called a small group of rioters. [4] Netanyahu condemns the attack, which he believes a small group of rioters was behind. [4] Their actions inflict great damage on the local community, and they prevent our forces from carrying out the missions, he said. [4] A number of other Israeli politicians have also reacted strongly to the incident. [4] The arson, stone-throwing, the attack and the damage to IDF soldiers and border police are strictly prohibited and can in no way be defended, says Israeli President Isaac Herzog. [4] The attack receives rare strong criticism from Israeli authorities, and police have arrested at least one person and taken in two minors for questioning. [4]

Israeli settlers clash with security forces during attack on West Bank village of Jalud. — Source: reliefweb

Military Closures and Movement Restrictions

Israeli military closures have isolated Ramallah in the central West Bank, causing motorists to face up to six-hour waits at tightened checkpoints that disrupt travel, work, and medical access. [5] Motorists report six-hour waits as tightened checkpoints disrupt travel, work and medical access across central West Bank. [5]

ICRC Call for Civilian Protection

The International Committee of the Red Cross has called for urgent protection of the civilian population in the West Bank, stressing the need to uphold international humanitarian law and obligations under the law of occupation. [2] Upholding international humanitarian law and respecting obligations under the law of occupation are necessary steps towards restoring the safety and dignity of the population, says ICRC. [2]

Satellite images reveal extensive destruction amid Gaza’s deepening humanitarian crisis. — Source: france24

Ongoing Devastation in Gaza

In Gaza, new satellite images from Google Maps reveal vast areas reduced to rubble after nearly three years of conflict, with the humanitarian situation remaining dire as Israeli strikes continue. [3] Google Maps has updated its satellite imagery of the territory for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war began nearly three years ago. [3] The images show vast areas reduced to rubble, highlighting the extent of the devastation caused by the conflict. [3] Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with Israeli strikes continuing across the territory. [3]

Regional Context of Current Wars

A rapid offensive by Yemen’s Houthis has intensified the country’s civil war and caused chaos in global oil markets. [1] The group, which has controlled much of northern Yemen for over a decade, has seized fresh territory from the pro-government forces and threatened shipping traffic, notably that of Saudi Arabia, in the Bab el-Mandeb strait. [1] Since 2023, the Houthis have also attacked over 100 commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, principally targeting those linked to Israel amid the country’s genocide in Gaza as well as from Saudi Arabia. [1] The Houthis have also used open-source intelligence, including shipping traffic data from maritime intelligence websites, to locate and attack vessels in the Red Sea. [1] The Houthis declared a maritime blockade and attacked vessels, mainly Saudi, in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea for the first time in months. [1] Their medium-range missile capability is such that they have hit targets in northern Israel, around 2,000km from Sanaa, including Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. [1] The Houthis’ armoury includes the Palestine-2 precision-guided series, first promoted by the group in 2024, which they say has a range of 2,150km and uses solid fuel, meaning it can be deployed quickly. [1] The movement also claims the Palestine-2 system is hypersonic and can carry a 500kg warhead, allowing it to manoeuvre while travelling at Mach 5, making it harder to intercept. [1] The Houthis have also released footage of other medium-range ballistic missiles, including the Hatem-2, which appears to be a variant of Iran’s Kheibar Shekan system. [1] It has a range of 1,450km, can carry a 500kg warhead, and is among the Islamic Republic’s most advanced systems. [1]

What to watch next: The Houthis have also used anti-ship cruise missiles, which skim the surface of the water and are more accurate, and analysts say some of these missiles are modelled on the Iranian Quds series, which have a range of at least 800km.