Video: Settlers attack Palestinian family home with tear gas

Israeli settlers threw tear gas canisters into a Palestinian home early Tuesday morning, injuring a nine-month-old boy and his parents.
2 min read
22 December, 2015
Suspected Israeli settlers fired tear gas into a West Bank home, knocking unconscious a Palestinian family, including nine-month-old baby.

The word revenge was scrawled on the walls of the house in Hebrew.

Settlers arrived at the home of Hussein al-Najjar in the village of Beitillu early Tuesday morning. 

Najjar, aged 30, told Palestinian Maan News that first the gang vandalised the outside wall, then smashed a window and throwing in three tear gas canisters.

Najjar, his wife and nine-month-old boy suffered from severe tear gas inhalation.

"The family survived death thanks to the intervention of neighbours who broke open the main door and evacuated the family, who were found unconscious," Najjar told Maan.

More graffiti was found at the scene saying "regards from the detainees of Zion", which could be a reference to settlers who have been jailed for other attacks.

Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said they were launching an investigation into the incident.

There have been frequent cases of settlers vandalising or setting fire to Palestinian homes, as well as mosques and churches. 

In July, a settler arson attack killed a Palestinian toddler and his parents in the village of Douma.

PLO Executive Committee Member Hanan Ashrawi last week said that Israel had failed prosecute the suspects responsible for the Dawabsha family firebombing.

"When it comes to Jewish criminality or terrorism against Palestinian victims, the legal system in Israel seems to fall apart," the PLO official said in a statement.

There were at least 220 attacks by settlers against Palestinians in 2015.

The incident comes as at least 116 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops in October, when tensions between the two groups increased.