Dusk fell over Kafr Malik, a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank, as a mother settled her newborn to sleep and another relative arrived with her children. This tranquility was abruptly disrupted when a large group of masked Israelis entered the village, according to local witnesses and officials.
The assailants reportedly threw Molotov cocktails and ignited homes and vehicles. The Israeli military acknowledged that numerous Israeli civilians had set Palestinian property ablaze.
The violence in Kafr Malik, located northeast of Ramallah, is part of a broader increase in settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank, where approximately half a million Israelis reside among three million Palestinians. The United Nations reported that over 220 Palestinians were injured in settler attacks during the first five months of 2025, marking the highest rate in years, with one Palestinian man killed on June 19.
This incident triggered further confrontations between settlers and Israeli security forces. An Israeli youth was shot and wounded by soldiers, leading to clashes with hard-right Israelis who subsequently set fire to a nearby security installation.
Tensions had been escalating in Kafr Malik prior to the attack, as residents mourned the death of 14-year-old Ammar Hamayel, who was shot by Israeli soldiers two days earlier, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The Israeli military did not provide immediate comments regarding this incident.
The Afeef family’s home was among the first targeted during the attack. As Taghreed Jodeh arrived with her children, the atmosphere shifted from joy to panic as her car was set ablaze. She and her sister rushed to save the children as firebombs were thrown in their direction.
One firebomb was thrown into the bedroom where Mr. Afeef’s newborn nephew was sleeping, damaging furniture but leaving the baby and mother unharmed. Witnesses reported that Israeli forces arrived but opened fire on Palestinians instead of intervening to stop the rioters.
The Palestinian health ministry reported that three individuals were killed during the incident, identified as Murshid Hamayel, Lutfi Baeirat, and Muhammad Naji, with nine others injured. The Israeli military claimed that clashes ensued during the civilian assault, stating that both Israelis and Palestinians exchanged stones and that Palestinians fired at soldiers, prompting return fire.
Residents of Kafr Malik expressed disbelief, stating they had not heard gunfire before the soldiers began shooting. The motivations behind the initial violence remain unclear.
Ongoing violence between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank is common, and the settlers had recently commemorated the second anniversary of a shooting attack that resulted in four Israeli civilian deaths. Graffiti found near the Afeef home referenced “vengeance” and the anniversary of the attack.
The underlying issue of the violence relates to the long-standing dispute over land, as Jewish settlers view the West Bank as part of their biblical heritage, while much of the international community regards it as essential for a future Palestinian state. Most countries consider Israeli settlements in occupied territories to be violations of international law.
Recent months have seen the establishment of at least seven new settler outposts around Kafr Malik, according to the village mayor, with these outposts encroaching on village land. Although these outposts are illegal under Israeli law, the government has often overlooked them or retroactively authorized some.
Deputy Mayor Amjad Shayeb stated that settler violence is intentional, aimed at instilling fear among residents. Another villager, Shireen Said, recounted an attack on her home, alleging that soldiers provided cover for the assailants.
Residents described the outskirts of the village, once safe for grazing and evening walks, as increasingly perilous. Mr. Afeef expressed his determination to remain in his home despite the violence, stating, “We don’t know how much more we will have to pay in blood.”