Elderly Palestinian hurt in settler attack near Hebron

An elderly Palestinian man was injured in an attack by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said Sunday. The incident occurred in the town of Surif, northwest of Hebron. According to the official Wafa news agency, settlers armed with clubs assaulted the man and several other residents in the Khallat Ghneimat area. Surif Mayor Hazem Ghneimat confirmed the attack, stating that the settlers also drove cattle onto farmland in the nearby Khallat al-Homs area, south of Yatta. That land, planted with fruit trees, belongs to Palestinian farmer Samir Obeid. The cattle damaged trees and crops. The West Bank has been under Israeli occupation since 1967. Israeli settlements in the territory are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. Palestinian officials report a rise in settler attacks on Palestinians and their property, especially in the Hebron governorate, near settlements and outposts. No arrests have been reported. The injured man received medical treatment. The incident adds to tensions in the region, where violence has flared frequently in recent months.