Settlers torch machinery in West Bank industrial zone
A violent attack on stone-cutting facilities in Beita caused over one million dollars in damage, highlighting the growing threat to local livelihoods.
By Larissa Bell ·
Israeli settlers launched a violent assault on an industrial zone in the Palestinian town of Beita on Monday. Located south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, the area was targeted by dozens of individuals who set fire to heavy machinery, vehicles, and other equipment. The incident resulted in extensive damage to local stone-cutting workshops that serve as a primary source of income for many residents.
Ashraf Ghazaly, who owns some of the damaged heavy machinery, stated that the group involved in the attack numbered more than 150 settlers. According to Ghazaly, the assailants threw stones at Palestinian workers before entering a workshop to ignite the equipment. He estimated the total financial loss at over 3.3 million shekels, which is approximately one million US dollars. Notably, one of the excavators that was destroyed had been purchased only four days prior to the incident.
Ghazaly described the chaotic scene, noting that his brother and other workers were physically assaulted. He remarked that the attackers were so numerous and aggressive that no one present was able to effectively stop them. The settlers were identified as coming from the Navitar settlement, which is established on land belonging to Beita. This event is part of a recurring pattern of violence against the industrial zone, with two previous attacks in recent months involving smashed windows on bulldozers, excavators, and offices.
Ziad Ghazaly, another owner of a family-run facility in the area, explained the tactical nature of the attack. He noted that settlers used ladders to access the quarry yard, which sits between 2.5 and three meters below ground level. The fire spread rapidly, causing significant destruction within minutes despite the efforts of local residents to assist in extinguishing the blaze.
Ziad Ghazaly also criticized the response of the Israeli army, which arrived at the scene to prevent entry and exit from the area. He argued that this restriction hindered efforts to control the fire and provide aid to the facility owners. The military presence effectively isolated the site during the critical moments of the incident.
Abdul Rahman Salameh, a stone-cutting workshop owner, indicated that the attack occurred after most workers had left for the day. Only a small group of seven or eight young men, including his sons and cousins, remained on site. Salameh reported that approximately five facilities were affected by the fire, resulting in significant material damage to the industrial equipment.
Salameh stated that the area faces frequent provocations and threats from settlers, with incidents occurring two or three times per week. He expressed the view that the goal of these attacks is to terrorize owners and workers into leaving, thereby allowing settlers to seize more land and expand their presence. He emphasized that the community remains determined to stay despite the ongoing assaults, noting that this is happening in Area B of the West Bank, which is under Palestinian Authority administrative control.
The industrial zone in Beita is a vital hub for the construction industry in the northern West Bank. Omar Diriya, chairman of the Union of Stone and Marble Industry in Palestine, said the attacks threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of families. The facilities in the zone employ more than 500 workers, supporting hundreds of households with an average family size of six to eight members.
Diriya described the repeated attacks on quarries and industrial facilities as a dangerous escalation. He warned that the sector is already struggling with difficult economic conditions caused by closures, checkpoints, bypass roads, and high production costs. He added that the destruction of machinery compounds these losses, particularly because insurance companies typically do not cover damage resulting from war or conflict.
The attack in Beita coincides with a significant rise in settler violence across the West Bank. The United Nations humanitarian affairs office, Ocha, documented 397 attacks resulting in injuries or property damage between October 1 and 26. This figure represents the highest monthly count since the agency began keeping records in 2006. Additionally, the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, a Palestinian government agency, recorded 1,369 settler attacks in total during October, marking an increase of more than 111 percent compared to the previous month.
