Israeli settlers set Palestinian car on fire — Sunday 17 May 2026In the early hours of Sunday, Israeli settlers launched an attack on a Palestinian family home in Surif, near Hebron in the occupied West Bank. They set the family's car ablaze and scrawled the word "revenge" in Hebrew across the walls. A resident captured the fear in stark terms, vowing to stay awake by the window, uncertain whether attackers would approach from one direction or another. Such incidents have become a grim routine in areas where Palestinian communities live under the shadow of expanding settlements. Violence from settler groups has surged since the October 7 attacks, with the United Nations recording 760 incidents across the West Bank and East Jerusalem this year alone. Hebron and its surrounding villages have long been flashpoints, where daily life for Palestinians involves checkpoints, land disputes, and the constant threat of property destruction. International law deems these settlements illegal, yet the pattern of raids and arson continues with little apparent restraint from Israeli authorities. For audiences across the region, these events underscore deepening instability that ripples beyond the West Bank. Families in Surif and similar towns face not only immediate losses but also the erosion of any prospect for calm coexistence. Regional observers note how unchecked settler actions fuel resentment and complicate efforts by Arab states to manage broader security concerns tied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The incident highlights the urgent need for accountability mechanisms that protect civilians on both sides while addressing the root drivers of escalation in occupied territories.Watch the full video from Middle East Eye below.