Since 16-year-old Israeli Ahuvia Sandak died during a police chase near the settlement of Kochav Hashachar on 21 December 2020, the number of violent settler attacks against Palestinians has sharply risen throughout the West Bank.
On 21 December 2020, at around 4:30 P.M., Islam ‘Awadallah, 23, a resident of the village of ‘Attil, arrived at the Sarra-Jit junction. He was driving his truck, on route to Tulkarm, with a passenger, Ahmad Badran, 23, from Tulkarm. ‘Awadallah was planning to turn onto Road 55, but when the truck arrived at the intersection, the two noticed Palestinian vehicles that had taken that turn were turning back. Settlers had blocked the road near the settlement of Kedumim. ‘Awadallah was not able to make the U-turn due to the size of his truck and continued driving north on Road 60. As they approached the entrance to the settlement of Shavei Shomron, they came across dozens of settlers who began pelting the truck with stones, breaking its windshield and side windows. Fearful, ‘Awadallah and Badran abandoned the truck in the middle of the road and fled on foot. They waited for about an hour, and when they returned, they found the truck in a ditch by the side of the road with its four front tires punctured.
‘Awadallah had to drive the truck with the punctured tires to Deir Sharaf, where he was able to change them. He replaced the broken windows the next day. The total cost of the repairs surpassed 3,000 NIS (nearly 1,000 USD).
In a testimony he gave B’Tselem field researcher Abdulkarim Sadi, Islam ‘Awadallah described the settler attack on his truck:
I’m a truck driver, and I drive to the Sha'ar Efrayim commercial crossing every day, load the truck and distribute the goods to stores in the West Bank.
On that day, I was riding with a work colleague, Ahmad Badran. At around 4:30 P.M., we were driving back from Nablus on Road 60. When we got to the Sarra-Jit intersection, I was going to turn onto Road 55, but we suddenly noticed that cars that had made the turn were making a U-turn and heading back. When we asked the drivers what happened, they told us settlers were blocking the road to Qalqiliyah near the settlement of Kedumim.
I couldn’t make a U-turn because of the size of the truck, so I just kept going straight on Road 60. I was going to turn onto Road 557 and drive toward Tulkarm. As we came closer to the entrance to Shavei Shomron settlement, I again saw Palestinian cars stopping, turning around and heading back towards Nablus. As soon as I started slowing down in order to stop, dozens of settlers attacked the truck with stones.
Ahmad, who was sitting next to me, opened the truck door and fled, running, towards Nablus. The settlers kept throwing stones at the truck, breaking the front windshield and side windows. I was very scared. I also opened the door and abandoned the truck with the engine still running. I ran in the direction of Nablus and Deir Sharaf.
I ran for about 500 meters until I found Ahmad and some other drivers, who had gathered on the western part of Deir Sharaf. We waited there until the army came and opened the road after about an hour.
Ahmad and I decided to go back to the truck, but when we got to the spot where we’d left it, it wasn’t there. We found it near the road, with the tires in a drainage ditch by the side of the road. In addition to the broken windows, its four front tires were punctured. I still drove it to Deir Sharaf to get the tires changed.
About half an hour later, at around 5:00 P.M., Sadeq Khatatbeh, 24, who was driving with a friend from Tulkarm, where they work, home to Beit Furik, also arrived at the entrance to Shavei Shomron. Dozens of settlers, some of them masked, attacked their car with stones as well. One stone shattered the driver’s side window and entered the car. Khatatbeh was hit in the head, above the right eye. He kept driving for about 100 meters, and then pulled over, got out of the car, walked a few steps and fell down. A passing car stopped. One of its passengers got into Khatatbeh’s car and drove him and his friend to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus. Khatatbeh was examined and x-rayed, and doctors treated the scratches on his face. He was released after about two hours.
In a testimony he gave B'Tselem field researcher Salma a-Deb’i, Sadeq Khatatbeh described his injury and the settler attack on his car:
I was driving home with a friend from work from the construction site where we work in Tulkarm. As we approached the entrance to the settlement of Shavei Shomron, we suddenly saw 20-25 settlers on the left side of the road, most of them masked. They threw stones at us. I heard a very strong thud and felt glass flying into my face. I couldn’t see anything in front of me, but I kept driving.
About 100 meters farther down the road, I could barely open my right eye. I pulled over on the shoulder. I opened the door and went out. My head was hurting, and blood was dripping down my face and clothes. I couldn’t feel my face at all. I took only a few steps forward and then fell down.
In the meantime, a car that had come from the direction of Tulkarm stopped, and the young guys in it helped me and put me back in my car. One of them got in and drove the car because Yusef can’t drive. They took me to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus.I was x-rayed, and the wound on my face was treated. Yusef, who was in shock, and I, stayed at the hospital for about two hours and then went home.
Thank God we didn’t get hit by the stone that got into the car. It’s still there. We were saved from certain death, but I’m concerned because I still can’t see well, and I’m worried my eye was damaged. The area has since swollen, and I have a blue bruise on my face.