The search for a missing Israeli teenager resumed today in the occupied West Bank, where at least one person was killed and dozens injured in settler attacks on Palestinian villages, sources on both sides reported.
The Israeli army said it was still looking for Benjamin Achimeir, 14, who went missing early on Friday from Malachi Hashalom, an outpost near the city of Ramallah.
With tensions already high due to the Israel-Hamas war in the other Palestinian territory of Gaza, Israeli security forces and hundreds of volunteers formed a huge search party to look for the teen.
Violence erupted on Friday afternoon when Jewish settlers who were part of the manhunt raided the village of Al-Mughayyir, firing shots and torching numerous homes and cars in the village. Residents responded by throwing stones.
“Settlers raided the town with the excuse of searching for the missing Israeli boy,” said Amin Abu Alyah, the local mayor, adding that “the army arrived to back them up”.