Israeli settlers vandalise Palestinian homes in attacks on Bethlehem

Israeli settlers on Monday morning attacked Palestinian homes and cars in a town close to the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, security sources said.

The settlers stormed the town of Tuqou, southeast of Bethlehem, and threw rocks at a number of houses and cars, breaking their windows, security sources told the Palestinian Authority news agency Wafa.

No injuries were reported.

The attack comes hours after settlers vandalised homes and cars of Palestinians in the village of Almenia, east of Bethlehem on Sunday evening.

Israel has illegally occupied the West Bank since 1967. It frequently conducts raids in residential areas and refugee camps in which Palestinians are often injured and killed.

More than 600,000 Israeli Jews live in settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, in constructions considered illegal under international law.

Under Israeli military law, Palestinians cannot build structures in the area without permits, which are typically refused and demolitions are common.