Palestinian child killed in suspected arson attack
Jewish 'price tag' extremists blamed for firebomb assault that also left three people critically injured
A Palestinian child was killed in a suspected arson attack by Jewish extremists in the West Bank.
Eighteen-month-old Ali Saad Dawabsha burned to death in the attack on two homes in the village of Duma early on Friday, which also left three family members critically wounded.
Eye-witnesses said they saw three people enter the village about 2.10am. The arsonists broke windows and threw firebombs into the Dawabsha home. When family members awoke they escaped but did not manage to get the baby out in time.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Nationalist graffiti slogans were found on the wall, including "revenge" and "price tag". Police described it as a "suspected attack with nationalist motives".
Such acts of violence have come to be known as "price tag" attacks, as they are intended to show that action against Jewish settlers comes at a price.
The crime appeared to be an act of revenge for the recent demolition of two buildings in the nearby settlement of Beit El, says The Guardian. The newspaper described it as the worst attack by suspected Israeli extremists since a Palestinian teenager was burned to death last summer after three Israeli boys were kidnapped and killed.
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said he held the Israeli government fully responsible for this morning's attack. "This is a direct consequence of decades of impunity given by the Israeli government to settler terrorism," he said in a statement.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "I am shocked over this reprehensible and horrific act. This is an act of terrorism in every respect. The state of Israel takes a strong line against terrorism regardless of who the perpetrators are."
In Britain, the chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, Sir Mick Davis, also condemned the incident, calling it a "terrorist atrocity".
The "price tag" group has been blamed for a succession of torchings of mosques in the West Bank in the past few years.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Republicans want to silence Israel's opponents'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 19, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - priority delivery, USPS on fire, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Sydney mall attacker may have targeted women
Speed Read Police commissioner says gender of victims is 'area of interest' to investigators
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why are kidnappings in Nigeria on the rise again?
Today's Big Question Hundreds of children and displaced people are missing as kidnap-for-ransom 'bandits' return
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
The #MeToo movements around the world
The Explainer French men have been sharing stories of abuse in the latest calling out of sexual assault and harassment
By The Week Staff Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
How the idyllic Galapagos Islands became staging post in world drug trade
Under the radar Ecuador's crackdown on gang violence forces drug traffickers into Pacific routes to meet cocaine demand
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Armed gangs, prison breaks and on-air hostages: how Ecuador was plunged into crisis
The Explainer Gangs launch deadly revenge after president declares state of emergency following escape of feared drug boss from prison
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Ecuador tips toward chaos amid prison breaks, armed TV takeover
Speed Read New President Daniel Noboa authorized the military to 'neutralize' powerful drug-linked gangs after they unleashed violence and terror across Ecuador
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Prague shooting: student kills 14 people at university
Speed reads Police believe suspect, who killed himself, may have shot his father before carrying out mass murder
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published