Israeli settler fires at children, homes in Hebron village

An Israeli settler opened fire at a group of children and residents’ homes in the village of Sikka, south-west of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, on Thursday evening.

Waleed Hashish, head of the Sikka village council, told the Palestinian news agency WAFA that the settler, who was driving a vehicle, fired live ammunition at children playing football in the school playground east of the village. He also fired at residents’ homes, frightening the children.

Hashish said the settler also deliberately shot guard dogs near residents’ homes, killing three of them.

He added that villagers face daily attacks, which have increased significantly and now pose a serious threat to their lives. The attacks escalated after settlers seized an old house east of the village and turned it into an outpost six months ago, just a few metres from residents’ homes.

Hashish said the village, which has a population of about 1,500, relies mainly on agriculture and livestock for income. Settlers now surround it on all sides and prevent residents from reaching, cultivating and tending their land.