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Photos Show West Bank Palestinians Keeping Watch at Night as Settler Violence Grows
Volunteer watchmen scan with flashlights and phone alerts as Palestinians say settler attacks have become routine and no security force protects the town.
Residents in Sinjil, a town about 15 kilometers northeast of Ramallah, have organized a volunteer night watch to scan the area with flashlights for approaching Israeli settlers.
Violence in the West Bank has surged since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct 7, 2023, with Palestinians facing frequent settler attacks and no government security willing to protect them.
When masked settlers descended from a hillside recently, Palestinians mobilized to confront them, setting brush ablaze to block the advance while gunfire, stones, and slingshots were exchanged.
Mayor Moataz Tawafsha said, "This is another episode in the series of settlers' attacks against Sinjil," characterizing the confrontation as part of an ongoing pattern.
For those who live in Sinjil, nightly watches have become routine as volunteers continue monitoring the area without government or security force protection.