Israeli Settler Kills Palestinian Harvester Amid Soaring West Bank Violence

Seventh Palestinian death at hands of settlers following Hamas incursion; over 1,400 Israelis and 7,700 Palestinians killed since outbreak of violence three weeks ago.

Bilal Saleh, a Palestinian man harvesting olives in the village of Sawiya, was shot dead by a Jewish settler. This marked the seventh such killing of a Palestinian by settlers since the recent surge in West Bank violence.
Settler leader Yossi Dagan claimed the shooter acted in self-defense after being attacked with rocks by Hamas supporters. The Israeli military confirmed a 'violent confrontation' and a subsequent death, with an investigation being opened.
This year stands as the deadliest in the West Bank since the second Palestinian uprising against Israel two decades ago, with over 100 Palestinians killed since the war outbreak three weeks ago.
A significant increase in settler violence followed a deadly incursion by Hamas on October 7, leading to the deaths of over 1,400 Israelis and 7,700 Palestinians, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry.
U.S. President Joe Biden has condemned the escalating violence, attributing extremist settlers' attacks to 'pouring gasoline' on already burning Middle East conflicts following the Hamas attack.