Herzog and Top Generals Condemn 'Shocking' West Bank Settler Attacks, Urge Decisive Action; Zikim Crossing Reopened

JERUSALEM — Israel's president and senior military leaders on Wednesday publicly condemned a wave of violent attacks by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and called for swift, decisive action to halt the trend.

President Isaac Herzog described the incidents as "shocking and serious," adding a rare and forceful rebuke to otherwise limited criticism from top officials. Though largely ceremonial, Herzog framed his office as a moral guide and national unifier, warning that the actions of a "handful" of perpetrators "crosses a red line." He urged on social media that "all state authorities must act decisively to eradicate the phenomenon."

Military leaders echo call for action

The Israeli army's chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, backed Herzog's condemnation, saying the military "will not tolerate the phenomena of a minority of criminals who tarnish a law-abiding public." Zamir said the army is committed to stopping violent acts by settlers, calling such behavior contrary to Israeli values and a distraction from the military's core missions.

Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, head of the military's Central Command, said responding to an "anarchist fringe" drains significant resources that could otherwise support security and counterterrorism efforts. The army reported that the settlers who attacked the Palestinian villages fled to a nearby industrial zone and confronted soldiers, damaging a military vehicle. The military said four Palestinians were wounded.

Police said four Israelis were arrested in connection with the violence; on Wednesday three of those suspects were released while a judge ordered that one minor arrested on suspicion of arson and assault remain in custody for six more days. Authorities said investigations into the released suspects continue "with the goal of bringing offenders to justice, regardless of their background."

Surge in settler violence

The assaults on Beit Lid and Deir Sharaf on Tuesday were the latest in a growing series of attacks by young settlers that have risen since the Gaza war began two years ago. Incidents have intensified recently during the olive harvest season, when farmers are particularly vulnerable in rural areas.

The U.N. humanitarian office reported that October saw more Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank than any other month since record-keeping began in 2006, documenting more than 260 attacks that month. Palestinian residents and human rights groups accuse the Israeli army and police of failing to prevent such attacks, while critics point to the influence of far-right politicians in government, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Cabinet minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Local accounts and accusations

Muayyad Shaaban, who leads a Palestinian Authority office monitoring the violence, said attackers set fire to four dairy trucks, farmland, tin shacks and tents belonging to a Bedouin community. He described the incidents as part of a campaign to drive Palestinians from their land and accused Israeli authorities of offering settlers protection and impunity. Shaaban called for sanctions against organizations he described as supporting "the colonial settlement terrorism project."

"To feel that my children are safe... This can't go on," said Mahmoud Edeis, a Beit Lid resident, describing the erosion of everyday safety for families living near the affected communities.

Amjad Amer Al-Juneidi, an employee at a dairy factory that was targeted, described the attack as coordinated: one person carried gasoline cans, another used a crowbar to force entry, and a third ignited the fuel. "Their entry into the company wasn't random. It was organized," he said.

Humanitarian concerns as Zikim crossing reopens

Also on Wednesday, Israel reopened the Zikim crossing into northern Gaza after a two-month closure. U.N. officials welcomed the reopening but urged Israel to further increase humanitarian shipments. Stephane Dujarric, the U.N. spokesperson, said aid groups in Gaza are struggling to distribute supplies once they arrive and are having to "stretch out the available stocks."

UNICEF warned that demand for baby formula far exceeds current supplies, and officials expressed concern about potential shortages of syringes needed for an ongoing vaccination campaign that began this month and will continue into January. The Israeli coordination body COGAT said in a statement that "Israel is fully committed to its obligation to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid trucks in accordance with the (ceasefire) agreement." Aid has been entering Gaza through crossings in central and southern Gaza since Oct. 10.

The situation reflects parallel pressures: domestic political debates and security strains tied to settler violence in the West Bank, and urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza. Investigations and responses by security forces are ongoing as authorities face domestic and international scrutiny.