Day: April 13, 2024

ISTANBUL: Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi wrapped up a 'comprehensive' assessment of the army's readiness for an Iran attack, the army reported Friday. The army 'is well prepared in attack and defense against any threat. We are at war and have been on high alert for about six months,' he said, according to an army statement reported by The Times of Israel newspaper. The military 'continues to closely monitor what is happening in Iran and in the various arenas, while constantly preparing to deal with existing and potential threats in coordination with the United States armed forces,' said Halevi. He added that forces 'are prepared and ready at any time and against any scenario.' Army spokesman Daniel Hagari said at a news conference Friday that it is prepared for the potential Iranian attack 'with a variety of capabilities.' 'Our defense is ready, and knows how to handle each threat individually. We are also ready for attack, with a variety of capabilities, to protect the citizens of Israel,' he said. Hagari pointed out that 'there is no change in the internal instructions, but the coming days require us to be alert and prepared.' He continued: "We presented to the chief of staff our defensive and offensive preparations to deal with any attack." Hagari claimed that Iran 'is escalating the situation in the Middle East,' citing attacks by its proxies in Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. 'We'll know how to deal with the Iranian threat. We are well-prepared and will know how to respond to anything,' he added. Israel is preparing for the possibility of retaliatory attacks from Iran following the assassination of Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi and other high-ranking officials in an airstrike that Tehran blamed on Israel that targeted the Iranian consular section building of its embassy in Damascus earlier this month. The schedule of a US general's visit to Israel has not been disclosed. Source: Anadolu Agency

In an interview at the 9th Delphi Forum, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, Constantinos Kombos, referred to a possible Iranian attack on Israel and the consequences it would have for Cyprus and the wider region. The Cypriot Foreign Minister assessed that if Iran strikes Israel directly, we will be faced with a paradigm shift, which will reflect a change in the operational and political stance of this country and will have serious consequences on the wider region. The Republic of Cyprus is preparing for every scenario, Kombos stressed, while noting that diplomatic and political time has been accelerated. He also suggested that such an attack would be an escalation of the Middle East crisis in the worst possible way. "The message we want to convey is restraint," Kombos noted. As he said, the Republic of Cyprus would be directly affected by this in many ways. There may be a need to evacuate third-country nationals from the region and therefore Cyprus may have to activate the National Plan 'Estia ' - a possibility for which it has already prepared, he explained. "A second issue which is of great concern to us is the possibility of migratory flows. We should clearly distinguish between the two issues. It is one issue the evacuations to repatriate third country nationals and another refugee flows that may result from such an escalation," he said. He explained that the refugee arrivals from Syria have increased and this creates great concern to the Cypriot government. For this reason, he noted, the Republic of Cyprus has been making a systematic effort to find a solution, part of which is the recent visit of the President of the Republic of Cyprus to Lebanon is part of. "The migration problem is common to Cyprus and Lebanon; therefore, the solution should be common, with the contribution of the EU," The Cypriot Foreign Minister underlined. More broadly, Kombos referred to the Amalthea humanitarian corridor to Gaza - an initiative taken by Cyprus that now has led to a wider alliance, with the help of t he US, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, and the EU. "The Republic of Cyprus is not a monothematic state, which only asks for support on the Cyprus problem," Kombos stressed. As regards the Cyprus issue, the Cypriot Foreign Minister highlighted the appointment of a new UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Cyprus after seven years as an important consequence of the initiatives taken by the Cypriot government. "However, we have to deal with a public rhetoric from the other side, which refers to two states, sovereign equality or cooperation between entities", he said. The Cypriot government is making every effort to restart the negotiations from where they left off in Crans Montana, however, the two sides have completely different starting points at the current moment, Kombos explained. "We cannot ignore the fact that the other side is positioned outside the UN Security Council framework of a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality and insists on ideas of a two-state solution, in whatever way may it presents them in terms of rhetoric," Kombos pointed out. "The position of the Cypriot government is that we are not discussing anything other than the solution of a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality,' he stressed. "We are ready to return to the negotiating table today," the Foreign Minister said while stressing that there is also a duty to protect the Republic of Cyprus and therefore no solution of a secessionist nature can be accepted. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island's northern third. The latest round of talks ended in Crans Montana in July 2017 without result. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue. Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: In a letter to Pope Francis on Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "Humanity must prevent further violations of international law in Gaza." Erdogan also stated that humanity should speak out against the bombing of hospitals, schools, mosques, and churches, emphasizing that these should never be targeted, even in times of war. "Without a fair resolution of the Palestine-Israel issue, establishing lasting peace and stability in the Middle East is not possible," he added. "It is impossible to establish lasting peace and stability in the Middle East without a just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. An independent, sovereign and geographically integrated Palestinian State within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, must emerge and take its place in the global system as an equal member of the international community," Erdogan also underlined. Erdogan further emphasized in the letter that Trkiye has become the second-largest country providing aid to Gaza, with nearly 45,000 tons of humanitarian supplies since Oct. 7, 2023. "The treatment of 429 sick and wounded Gazans, including Christians, with 450 persons accompanying them, continues in Trkiye," he also said. Erdogan stated that killing is forbidden in all Abrahamic faiths, adding that humanity "must no longer allow international law and international humanitarian law to be trampled on in Gaza." "It must raise its voice against the deliberate bombing of hospitals, schools, mosques and churches that should not be violated, even in wartime," he said. International cooperation The president also touched upon international cooperation in humanitarian efforts for Gaza. "The challenges that we face, particularly the indiscriminate Israeli attacks in Gaza, where deaths by starvation occur due to the failure to deliver humanitarian aid even during the holy month of Ramadan, and the global impact of the Ukraine War, which is now in its third year, require the international community to act in cooperation and co ordination," he said. Erdogan reiterated Trkiye's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity in the letter. "Trkiye, while supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, with its motto of humanitarian diplomacy, has also been, and continues to be, at the forefront in the defense of the right to life of the innocent Palestinian civilians and their just cause," he said. Mentioning that hateful ideologies such as Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia "are spreading worldwide," Erdogan called for "inclusive and rational policies." "With this mindset, we are determined to further develop our dialogue and cooperation with the Holy See to promote a culture of peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding, on the basis of our common human values and our aim to serve world peace," he said. Pope grateful to Erdogan over peace efforts Head of Trkiye's Directorate of Religious Affairs, Ali Erbas, conveyed Erdogan's letter during his visit to the Pope, who he said was g rateful to the president for "what he has done." "Pope Francis emphasized that our president is one of the few leaders who works hard for world peace, and who has the power to achieve this," Erbas said. "For this reason, he asked us to personally convey his greetings to him and said: 'I thank you very much for what he has done'," he said. Erbas also said that the focus of their meeting was "the murders, massacres and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Palestine." "Jerusalem, the symbol of peace and coexistence, is under Israeli oppression, everywhere, regardless of Muslims or Christians, babies or innocent children, mosques or churches. We are faced with a situation where everyone, including children, elderly, sick and women, is being massacred," Erbas also added. "We expressed the need to work together to put an end to this situation and to draw more attention to Palestine and Gaza and to stop Israeli oppression." Since Israel has waged a deadly military offensive against the Gaza Strip foll owing a cross-border attack by the Hamas group on Oct. 7, at least 33,686 Palestinians have been killed. The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN. Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. Source: Anadolu Agency

Deputy Ministries of Culture and Tourism plan new cultural routes for Famagusta district, that will particularly focus on remote monuments or monuments unknown to the general public, including the monuments of Achna village, Deputy Minister of Culture Vasiliki Kassianidou said on Saturday. She was speaking at the conference entitled "Achna...place, history, culture, people", which was co-organised at the Achna Forest event hall by the Achna Cultural Association 'Kyriakos Hadjioannou', the Petrondas Modern Greek Studie Centre at the University of Cyprus, and the Neapolis University PhD History Program. In her address, Deputy Minister of Culture said that "the conference is an important step for the community of Achna and its residents since it will guide us to our rich cultural and historical heritage through the announcements that will be presented by prestigious speakers." She referred to important archaeological finds in the last two decades including ancient rock-hewn tombs and a shrine and to its rich byzantine tradition. The main goal of the Culture Deputy Ministry is to inform the public and ensure access to the region's monuments which are so far unknown in order to show-case its rich cultural character, Kassianidou noted. "In cooperation with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism plans are underway for cultural routes focusing in the district of Famagusta and in particular in remote monuments or monuments unknown to the general public," she said, adding that Achna monuments will be included in the routes. Source: Cyprus News Agency

ANKARA: At least 52 more Palestinians were killed and 95 others injured over the last 24 hours as Israel continues its onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip, the territory's Health Ministry said on Saturday. 'The Israeli occupation (forces) committed five massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, leaving 52 martyrs and 95 injured during the past 24 hours,' a ministry statement said. 'Many people are still trapped under rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them,' it added. Flouting the International Court of Justice's provisional ruling, Israel continues its onslaught on the Gaza Strip where at least 33,686 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and 76,309 injured since Oct. 7, according to Palestinian health authorities. Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas, which Tel Aviv says killed nearly 1,200 people. The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, c lean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN. Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. Hostilities have continued unabated, however, and aid deliveries remain woefully insufficient to address the humanitarian catastrophe. Source: Anadolu Agency

The contribution of Cyprus to the EU renewable energy target "so far is significantly below the one resulting from EU legislation", Commissioner on Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevicius has told CNA. He underlined however that the country has taken 'significant steps' towards implementing green reforms and investments, and added that 'there is untapped potential of renewable energy in the country' and that the updated national Recovery and Resilience Plan us an important tool in accelerating its use. In an interview with Cyprus News Agency ahead of his visit to the country on Monday the Commissioner also referred to the decision by the European Commission to refer Cyprus to the Court of Justice over its application of directives on Natura 2000 areas, as well as the open infringement procedures on development projects in these areas, and stressed that 'areas of conservation will not work unless there are appropriate measures applied', pointing out however that environmental protection and development of tourism should not be contradictory goals. He also spoke extensively about the EU's Common Fisheries Policy and how the fishing sector can adapt to meet environmental challenges while also ensuring the livelihood of professionals in the sector. Sinkevicius also referred to the role that the EU plays in supporting bi-communal cooperation on the environment in Cyprus, through technical support and funding, as well as through projects with an environmental footprint that benefit both sides. The Commissioner also responded to questions on preventing increased wildfires due to climate change, as well as on reforestation policies, air pollution and ways to deal with the increase of dust storms in Cyprus. Renewable energy sources ---------- Commenting on the upcoming completion of the Cypriot integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (NEPC), Sinkevicius recalled the Commission has published its assessment of the draft updated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), and that member states mu st submit their final plans by June 2024. Asked how he assesses the development of renewables in Cyprus, the Commissioner said that the country 'has recently taken significant steps towards implementing reforms and investments to accelerate the deployment of renewables.' 'However, the contribution to the EU renewable energy target submitted so far is significantly below the one resulting from EU legislation,' he added. According to the Commissioner, an important tool for the country to accelerate the deployment of renewables is its updated Recovery and Resilience Plan worth 1.22 billion euro, endorsed by the Commission last autumn, which dedicates 45% of the available funds on green transition measures, which includes measures regulating and facilitating the participation of individual consumers in the transition to renewables. 'Overall, there is untapped potential of renewable energy in the country and Cyprus should make the most out of the different funding sources and instruments, raising the ambition in the renewables sector which will assist in its effort to minimise pollution' he said, adding that the preparation of the country's final NEPC 'is a great opportunity for the Cypriot government to show the necessary level of ambition and tap into the potential of renewables the country has.' Natura 2000 --------- Asked to comment on the Commission's two recent decisions regarding infringements of EU legislation on the protection of Natura 2000 areas, and to assess the progress made by Cyprus so far, Sinkevicius clarified that there are two separate cases. Regarding the infringement procedures began in June 2021 which resulted in the referral of Cyprus to the Court of the EU, the Commissioner noted that 'despite efforts made to address certain issues, they were not enough.' He explained that Cyprus has formally designated 37 sites as Special Areas of Conservation 'but has yet to establish the necessary conservation measures for 28 of those sites.' 'The areas of conservation will not work unless there ar e appropriate measures applied' he noted, adding that 'the conservation objectives for five sites which were analysed in detail by the Commission are not adequate, meaning that the species and habitats in these sites are not properly protected.' 'Despite some progress on the designation of Special Areas of Conservation, the Cypriot authorities have not fully addressed the grievances and therefore we continued the case' taking it to the European Court of Justice, he said. Regarding the second case, on the authorisation of economic activities in Natura 2000 sites, Sinkevicius recalled that the Habitats Directive requires that plans and projects that are likely to have a significant impact on a Natura 2000 site have to undergo an assessment of their effects and can only be authorised if they do not harm the integrity of the site. The Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Cyprus in November 2019 for failing to properly assess projects, but since then 'has continued to receive complaints by citizens conc erning the authorisation of new projects' he noted. 'The Commission has found that the structural and persistent practice of authorising economic activities in Natura 2000 sites without complying with the Habitats Directive continues' he stressed, which is why Commission has decided to send a reasoned opinion to Cyprus, which is the last step before a referral to the CoJ. Asked to comment how the development of tourism can coexist with the need for protecting the environment, the Commissioner stressed that 'the two goals should not be contradictory' as the Birds and Habitats Directives 'support the principle of sustainable development and integrated management' and 'do not exclude socio-economic activities from Natura 2000 protected areas.' 'While investing in tourism, it is also important to set conservation objectives in the Natura 2000 sites' he continued, adding that these objectives 'should reflect the importance of the site for these species and habitats so that they continue to enjoy a favourable co nservation status, as well as address the threats of degradation or destruction'. 'Management plans for the areas can provide a comprehensive and effective framework for setting conservation objectives and measures in an open and transparent manner' he added, saying they can be useful tools for building a consensus view on the long-term management solutions and for creating a sense of shared ownership and responsibility for nature. Fisheries policy ----------- On the future of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in the context of environmental challenges, the Commissioner, said that the latest reform of the policy in 2013 'was geared towards regulating fisheries activities to ensure the sustainable management of fish stocks, the conservation of marine ecosystems, and the livelihood of fishing communities'. More specifically, he explained that the 2013 reform introduced tools to address environmental challenges such as the landing obligation and the requirement to set Total Allowable Catches at maximum sust ainable yield, 'meaning the obligation to ensure the sustainable exploitation of fish stocks' to ensure the sustainability of the EU fisheries and the availability of food supplies. Sinkevicius also clarified that the evaluation of the CFP which he announced recently does not necessarily mean that a revision will follow. 'The evaluation will provide an evidence-based assessment of whether the CFP is still fit for purpose or where lessons can be learned for improving' it, he noted, and that it will be the basis for the next Commission to take an appropriate decision. Responding to a question on how the EU can prevent the possible reaction of fisheries sector to environmental measures, in a way similar to recent reactions in the farming sector, Sinkevicius said that CFP "is more relevant than ever because it safeguards the oceans that are hosting 80% of biodiversity and on which depends the livelihood of fishers and many coastal communities." Its implementation is supported by the European Maritime and Fisher ies Fund (EMFF) he explained. 'The Commission is actively engaging in supporting the sector adapt to climate change, fight marine pollution and revert marine biodiversity loss, all the while strengthening the resilience of our fishers' Sinkevicius said pointing to last year's Fisheries and Oceans Package, and particularly a EU-wide participatory foresight project to forecast the role of fishers in society, launched in October 2023. Bicommunal cooperation --------------- Referring to the role of the EU in promoting bi-communal cooperation on the environment and biodiversity in Cyprus, the Commissioner stressed that 'environmental challenges do not stop at the Green Line, so bi-communal cooperation is essential to ensure that these are addressed coherently across the island.' Bi-communal cooperation, he added is promoted through several angles under projects financed by the EU aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, for example through the encouragement of "peer-to-peer contacts of environmental p ractitioners from the two communities by building capacity and raising awareness." "The EU has provided technical assistance, trainings and workshops for individuals and environmental stakeholders on waste, recycling, and wastewater management, as well as on ecology mainstreaming" he noted, adding that the EU's engagement with civil society has translated in bi-communal projects about marine pollution or use of pesticides, among others. He also pointed out that, although implemented in the Turkish Cypriot community, other projects about the conservation of bird species and sustainable use of resources have allowed the creation of links with Greek Cypriot counterparts. Also, the Commission is exploring the possibility to extend these bi-communal experiences to other environment related programmes such as LIFE+, he said. Sinkevicius added that the collaboration through the bi-communal Technical Committees is also financially supported by the EU, and that this support has so far 'allowed organising bi-communa l study visits and exchanges not only on turtle preservation, butterfly monitoring, and local biodiversity, but also on recycling, electronic waste, mining, and quarrying'. 'Next to stimulating bi-communal cooperation, while the Commission does not have a mandate to ensure the protection of nature in the northern part of Cyprus, it actively contributes to facilitating the work of those who play a role' he continued, explaining that the EU provides support to local practitioners by Member State experts on how to monitor and manage nature protection under EU principles. Also, he continued, "while physically located in the northern part of the island, projects like the three wastewater treatment plants that have been built by the EU, the closure of the landfill in Dikomo/Dikmen, or the rehabilitation of the wetlands in Kouklia/Kukla benefit the whole of the island'. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Wildfires and reforestation ---------- Commenting on t he increase of wildfires due to climate change, the Commissioner said that 'it is important to work on the prevention side' and pointed to the guidelines published by the Commission in 2021 on land-based wildfire prevention, containing several examples of practices such as controlled prescribed burning of certain trees to maintain the health of a forest, and the use of grazing animals for reducing materials in the forest that can burn in a fire. "In addition, we need to improve forest resilience by paying attention to reforestation actions and methods, using locally adapted and resilient tree species" he pointed out, noting that although we will not be able to prevent all wildfires, 'the consequences of wildfires can be different depending on the species planted or naturally regenerated.' The Commission published earlier this year guidance to EU funding for afforestation, reforestation and tree planting, he said. Air quality --------- Responding to questions on air quality, especially when it comes to cou ntries like Cyprus affected by more recent dust storms, Sinkevicius noted that dust storms are natural phenomena 'not generated by human activity' which means member states 'have little influence over them to reduce their importance or duration,' which is fully recognised by the EU air quality legislation. 'Nevertheless, it is important to inform the public if any such events trigger severe pollution episodes to take measures to protect the citizens, especially sensitive population and vulnerable groups, and to suggest what to do to reduce exposure to such episodes' he stressed, noting also that traffic emissions can be influenced by appropriate measures. 'The good news is that according to data provided by the Cypriot authorities, air quality in Cyprus is within the limits set by the current EU law governing these two pollutants' he added, pointing out however that concentrations are still above the levels recommended by the World Health Organisation. Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has confirmed seizing a container ship belonging to an Israeli businessman near the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions between the arch-foes. The ship named MSC Aries was seized by the marine unit of the IRGC in a special heliborne operation, state-run news agency IRNA reported on Saturday, confirming earlier reports. The report said the Portuguese-flagged ship has been directed towards the territorial waters of Iran. Earlier, Israel's Channel 14 and Times of Israel reported that the seized vessel belongs to Zodiac Maritime shipping company owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), in a statement, said a ship has been seized in the area, noting that vessels are 'advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO." The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region and speculation about Iran's imminent military strike against Iran in response to an attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria earlier this month. At least 13 people were killed in the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, including seven Iranian military advisors, which Iranian authorities blamed on Israel. Among those killed included Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Syria and Lebanon, and his deputy Gen. Hadi Haj Rahemi. After the attack, top Iranian and military leaders warned of a 'decisive response', with some speculating on Friday that the retaliatory strike would come in less than 48 hours. Addressing a gathering on Eid al-Fitr in Tehran on Wednesday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei renewed the threat of retaliation, saying Israel 'will be punished' for the attack. 'The evil regime made a mistake in this case and it must be punished and it will be punished,' he said. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Tel Aviv will respond if Iran attacks from its territory. In the past few days, many foreig n officials have spoken to Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, urging restraint, but Iranian authorities have warned that all options are on the table. Source: Anadolu Agency

Cyprus as a front-line country expects substantive support by the EU in the face of soaring migrant flows, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides told a gathering of EU leaders in Vienna, Austria. According to a written statement issued by Deputy Government Spokesman, Yiannis Antoniou, Christodoulides also reiterated the need for the designation of certain areas in Syria as safe, as well as the financial support to Lebanon for an effective management of the migration problem. He also focused on the issue of swift migrant returns and the tackling of the primary reasons that trigger migration flows. Cyprus is facing increasing flows of Syrian irregular migrants from Lebanon with hundreds arriving in the last days. President Christodoulides has discussed the issue with EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and travelled recently to Beirut for talks with the authorities of the neighbouring country. The President took part in a dinner hosted by the President of the European Council Charles Michel and th e Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in the presence of the leaders of Denmark, Malta and Slovenia with the view to discussing the EU's strategic agenda in the next five years. According to Antoniou, during the discussion President Christodoulides "stressed the need for the strengthening of the EU defence and security through joint actions and the development of programmes and capabilities." The President also referred to shipping, noting that this sector is of high strategic significance for the EU as it represents 80% of the EU trade and 90% globally while 40 of the global fleet is controlled by European ship owners. On the issue of the economy, he underscored that EU competitiveness should be bolstered through the deepening of the EU single market, strengthening of services and reducing the administrative burden especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, Antoniou said. The President returns to Cyprus on Saturday. Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: Israeli settlers on Saturday resumed their attacks on Palestinian villages and towns in the West Bank, injuring several Palestinians. 'The terrorist gangs of colonialists with the protection of the (Israeli) occupation army are closing the bridge of the village of Deir Dibwan, east of Ramallah,' the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said in a brief statement. It indicated that settlers also stormed the village of Duma east of Nablus in the northern West Bank. In a separate incident, at least six Palestinians were injured in overnight Israeli settlers attacks on the village of Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported Saturday that 'the settlers attacked the village from the east, riding vehicles bearing Palestinian license plates after the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the area.' 'They assaulted several youths, injuring five of them, one in the head,' it said. It also reported that 'settle rs fired bullets towards the citizens and their homes.' 'On Friday evening, a Palestinian citizen was injured in an attack by settlers on the village, during which at least 12 vehicles, 4 agricultural greenhouses, and 5 motorcycles were burned,' it added. Dozens of settlers also closed the western entrance of Silwad and attacked vehicles belonging to Palestinian citizens with stones, with no injuries reported, according to Wafa. 'Simultaneously, settlers closed the entrance of Turmus-Aya town and attacked passing vehicles,' it added. Moreover, Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinian towns in the cities of Qalqilya, Jenin and Hebron, according to Wafa. The attacks came a day after Israeli settlers Friday morning raided the village of Al-Mughayyir, east of the city of Ramallah in central West Bank. The attack resulted in the killing of a young man and injuries to dozens of Palestinians, and the burning of more than 40 homes. Tensions have been high across the occupied territory amid ongoing Israeli at tacks on the Gaza Strip, which left more than 33,600 people dead since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7. At least 463 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army fire in the West Bank since then, according to the Health Ministry. Source: Anadolu Agency