Dozens of Israeli civilians, some of whom were masked, entered the village of Jit in the West Bank on Thursday night, hurling stones and Molotov cocktails and setting vehicles and buildings on fire, the military said.
Following the initial reports, the army added that forces had been transferred to the area and removed the rioters from the village.
One Israeli civilian was arrested by the security forces, and the military said it was examining the report that a Palestinian was killed during the events.
The IDF also added that a joint IDF, Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and police investigation had been opened into the incident.
Earlier on Thursday, Israeli media reported that rioters had set fire to buildings and vehicles in the Jit village near the West Bank's Nablus.
גורמי ביטחון: עשרות רעולי פנים יהודים הציתו מבנים וכלי רכב פלסטינים בכפר ג'ית בשומרון. עד כה, דווח על ארבעה בתים ושישה כלי רכב שניזוקו בהצתות. כוחות צבא ומג"ב הגיעו למקום כדי לפזר את המתפרעים. אין עצורים@carmeldangor pic.twitter.com/RzYopm1Gby
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) August 15, 2024
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, a 22-year-old Palestinian was shot to death.
Politicians respond
In response to the events, the Prime Minister's Office released a statement which read, "Prime Minister Netanyahu takes seriously the riots that took place this evening in the village of Jit, which included injury to life and property by Israelis who entered the village."
"Those who fight terrorism are the IDF and the security forces, and no one else," the statement added.The statement concluded, "Those responsible for any criminal act will be caught and prosecuted."
President Isaac Herzog condemned the events in a post on X, formerly Twitter, "This is an extreme minority that harms the law-abiding settler population, the settlement as a whole, and the name and position of Israel in the world during a particularly sensitive and difficult period.
אני מגנה באופן נחרץ את הפרעות הערב בשומרון. מדובר במיעוט קיצוני שפוגע בציבור המתיישבים שומר החוק ובהתיישבות כולה ובשמה ומעמדה של ישראל בעולם בתקופה רגישה וקשה במיוחד. זוהי לא דרכנו ובטח לא דרכה של תורה ושל היהדות. על גורמי אכיפת החוק לפעול באופן מיידי כנגד התופעה החמורה הזו…
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) August 15, 2024
"This is not our way and certainly not the way of Torah and Judaism. Law enforcement officials must act immediately against this serious phenomenon and bring the lawbreakers to justice," Herzog concluded.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in response to the events, "At a time when our troops are fighting on the frontlines and defending the State of Israel, a group of radical individuals have launched a riot, and attacked innocent people. They do not represent the values of the communities living in the West Bank.
"I strongly condemn any form of violence, and fully support the IDF, ISA, and Israeli Police in fulfilling their roles and addressing this issue.
Gallant further stated, Violent, radical riots are the opposite of every code and value upheld by the State of Israel.”
At a time when our troops are fighting on the frontlines, defending the State of Israel, a group of radical individuals have launched a riot, and attacked innocent people. They do not represent the values of the communities living in Samaria. I strongly condemn any form of…
— יואב גלנט - Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) August 15, 2024
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in response, "I told the Chief of Staff this evening that the fact that we do not back soldiers to shoot any terrorist who throws stones leads to events such as that which happened tonight.
"At the same time, it is unequivocally forbidden to take the law into one's own hands," he added.
"The one who needs to deal with terrorism and deterrence, including against terrorists from the village of Jit, is the IDF," Ben-Gvir affirmed.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also issued a statement in response to the events, which read, "The rioters tonight in Jit are not related in any way to the settlement and the settlers. They are criminals who should be dealt with by the law enforcement authorities with the full severity of the law."
"We build and develop the settlement in a legal manner, support the IDF in its fight against terrorism, and strongly disapprove of any manifestation of anarchist criminal violence," Smotrich continued.
Interior Minister Moshe Arbel condemned the incident, calling "the Shin Bet and the enforcement agencies to act immediately to eradicate the serious nationalist crime that took place."
"These actions are against the values of Judaism. They are a moral and human abomination and harm the State of Israel and the settlement enterprise in the West Bank," he added.
Opposition head Yair Lapid said with regard to the events, "The riots of the Jews in the West Bank are a terrible moral low. When there are those in the government who support such events, it will only get worse. This has nothing to do with Judaism."
MK Benny Gantz stated, "The handful of lawbreakers who committed the acts of violence today in Jit village should be behind bars.
"They harm human morality and Jewish values. They are harming the State of Israel," he added.
Gantz also noted that the rioters "deserve unequivocal condemnation from all parts of society and from the entire leadership in Israel."
Head of The Democrats party, Yair Golan, denounced the events, "The representatives of the rioters in the Jit village were brought into the Knesset by Netanyahu and appointed as ministers. Therefore, this is not an extreme minority and a small problem but a violent group that receives enormous governmental support. Without a change of government, this violent public will continue to rule Israel and lead it to destruction."
US response
The White House condemned the attacks against the Palestinians according to Reuters on Thursday, adding that they are unacceptable and must stop.
"Israeli authorities must take measures to protect all communities from harm, this includes intervening to stop such violence, and holding all perpetrators of such violence to account," a White House National Security Council spokesperson said in a statement.