Violent clashes erupted on Saturday morning between dozens of settlers and about 150 Palestinians near the West Bank outpost of Esh Kodesh. According to the Israel Defense Forces, both sides threw stones at each other, and the Palestinians tried to torch fields near the outpost, situated south of Nablus.

The Palestinians reported that dozens were lightly wounded by rubber-bullet fire and gas canisters, shot by an IDF force which arrived at the scene. The IDF said the force opened fire after it was attacked with stones, and that only seven Palestinians were lightly wounded.

Ghassan Douglas, a Palestinian Authority official, said the clash broke out after dozens of settlers attacked Palestinian farmers working their fields in the nearby village of Qusra on Saturday morning. A group of Palestinians from the village then set out toward the outpost.

About three weeks ago, Esh Kodesh settlers clashes with local Palestinians. No casualties were reported, and an IDF force was alerted and declared the area a closed military zone. According to Douglas, the settlers attacked Palestinian farmers in attempt to drive them off their land, but dozens of Palestinians from local watchmen committees arrived and clashes with the settlers. According to him, the incident ended when the settlers withdrew.