Israeli settlers intensify attacks in West Bank, targeting water supplies

The attacks mark a sharp spike in settler assaults on Palestinians and their homes and livelihoods in recent weeks.Israeli settlers have attacked several parts of the occupied West Bank, seizing or destroying Palestinian homes and damaging essential supplies like water springs, electricity lines, and greenhouses, as they intensify their assaults and land seizures in recent weeks.Israeli settlers damaged the main electricity line supplying the village of al-Maniya to the southeast of Bethlehem, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported on Friday, citing Palestinian security sources.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Israel approves plan to establish 13 new settlements in occupied West Banklist 2 of 4Paradise lost: How Israel is making war on West Bank farmerslist 3 of 4Gaza war’s 1,000 days: 90% of strip ‘destroyed’, 80% ‘seized’ by Israellist 4 of 4Billions flow between EU institutions and Israel, despite Gaza genocideend of listThe settlers reportedly destroyed the electricity line and cut power to the community, causing fear and panic among residents. It was the second such incident in the village this week.Hours later, Israeli settlers vandalised agricultural greenhouses near the Shufa military checkpoint in the southeast of Tulkarem, local witnesses told Wafa, adding that the settlers tore the nets protecting the greenhouses, damaging agricultural facilities owned by a family from the village of Shufa.Also on Friday, Wafa reported that Israeli settlers had taken control of Ein Rawabi spring in the northeast of Jerusalem after vandalising the site in a new attack targeting a vital water source relied upon by Bedouin communities in the area.The Jerusalem Governorate said in a statement that the spring is the only water source for the local shepherds and their livestock of about 1,300 sheep. The seizure poses a direct threat to the livelihoods of dozens of Bedouin families, the governorate warned.Meanwhile, Israeli settlers seized the property of Mohammad Salameh in Jalud village of the occupied West Bank when he ⁠was building a home for his recently engaged son, the Reuters news agency reported on Friday.