SHAFAQNA- Press TV: Some properties of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have been vandalized by a group of Israeli settlers.
According to a report by the Palestine Information Center, dozens of extremist Israeli settlers damaged several cars and sprayed racist graffiti on them as well as on the walls of Palestinian-owned buildings in Marda Village, north of Salfit, in the West Bank, adjacent to the Israeli settlement of Ariel, early on Sunday.
It added that Israeli settlers also punctured the tires of at least five Palestinian cars.
Back in April, Israeli settlers committed similar crimes in Beit Hanina neighborhood in East Jerusalem al-Quds. They also broke the windows of a number of private vehicles.
The acts of vandalism and violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians are known as “price tag” attacks, which also target Muslim holy sites.
Palestinian activists and rights groups say Israel is fostering a “culture of impunity” for the Israelis who commit such violent acts against Palestinians.
The Israeli NGO B’Tselem says settler vandalism in the occupied West Bank is a daily routine and is fully supported by Israeli authorities.
Israel closes Gaza, West Bank crossings
On Sunday morning, Israeli authorities shut down the Karam Abu Salem and Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossings, southeast and north of the besieged Gaza Strip, for Jewish holidays, the Palestine Information Center said in a separate report.
The administration of Beit Hanoun Crossing said in a statement that it would be closed on Sunday for Palestinians until 2:00 p.m. local time.
The Karam Abu Salem Crossing is used to transfer goods into the coastal sliver and the Beit Hanoun Crossing is usually used by patients seeking treatment in Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank. The latter indirectly links the Gaza Strip to the occupied West Bank.
A complete closure has been imposed on the West Bank since the early hours of Sunday and is set to last until October 21, the report further said.
It added that as for al-Karama crossing with Jordan, the crossing would be opened on Sunday at 7:30 a.m. local time for three hours only. On Monday, it will be opened at 7:30 a.m. and closed at 5:00 p.m. local time.
Gaza has been under an Israeli siege since June 2007, which has caused a decline in living standards. Israel has launched three major wars against the enclave since 2008, killing thousands of Gazans and shattering the impoverished territory’s already poor infrastructure.
Read more from Shafaqna:
Gaza: Palestinians mark 19 years since al-Aqsa Intifada+ Video
Jordan’s criticism of Israeli minister for requesting change to Al-Aqsa status Quo