A heartbreaking video acquired by The Associated Press has emerged, depicting masked individuals violently attacking a 67-year-old Palestinian man, Basim Saleh Yassin, at a plant nursery located in the West Bank village of Deir Sharaf. Yassin, who is deaf, could not hear the warnings to evacuate as the group approached.
The assault, which resulted in Yassin being hospitalized with several fractures and internal injuries, coincided with the arson of four vehicles. This tragic event underscores a documented increase in settler violence throughout the region, occurring amid ongoing tensions surrounding settlement expansion.
On Thursday, a group of masked men, mostly dressed in black, stormed a German-Palestinian-operated nursery. While other workers managed to escape, Basim Saleh Yassin was captured by the group. Security camera footage reveals the attackers using sticks, kicking, and hitting Yassin even after he fell to the ground. Family members have confirmed that Yassin’s hearing impairment hindered his ability to respond to the group's initial approach.
Yassin is presently undergoing treatment in a hospital for fractures in his hands and serious injuries to his face, chest, and back. Four vehicles were set on fire during the raid.
This tragic incident marks the third assault on this particular nursery within a year. A prior event in September resulted in approximately $600,000 worth of damage to the facility's infrastructure.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) were deployed to the Shavei Shomron junction after receiving reports of vandalism. The military confirmed that three suspects were arrested and subsequently handed over to the police for interrogation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the assailants as a "small group of extremists" and urged law enforcement to take action.
Human rights groups and Palestinian residents contend that the violence is part of a systemic issue rather than isolated incidents, pointing out that such attacks have become commonplace, especially during the olive harvest seasons.
This attack occurs amid increased settlement activity. The Israeli Cabinet has recently sanctioned plans for 19 new settlements in the West Bank. Additionally, there has been reported progress on a contentious construction project near Jerusalem, which critics claim will effectively divide the West Bank, further complicating the prospects for a future contiguous Palestinian state.
