Family firebombed in settler attack

A young Palestinian has been stabbed in Jerusalem by a settler according to Israeli media. This occurred on the same night as a family of five were petrol bombed by settlers as they traveled through southern Bethlehem.   Israeli media stated: "Extremist settlers stabbed a Palestinian youth tonight in Hhthelot square, he was severely injured and transferred to Hadassah Ein Karem hospital. The settlers ran away from the accident without being arrested." In the Molotov attack six citizens from Nahhalin village to the west of Bethlehem including three children were treated for burns ranging from medium to severe after settlers threw bottles filled with flammable liquids onto a taxi near to the settlement of Gush Etzion which lies south of Bethlehem and the West Bank. The attack occurred an hour and a half before Eftar and totally destroyed the vehicle they were traveling in. The driver Bassam Mahmoud Essa (48), Ayman Mohammed Mostafa Ghayaza (36), Gamila Abdel Hay Ghayaza (30) and her three children Eman (4), Mohamed (3), and Enam (2) were all injured. Eye witnesses said: "I saw six settlers at the scene and observed them escaping from the place after accident towards the settlement of "Beit Ayin" in the Gush Etzion settlement. They left behind a lighter used to lighting the three Molotovs". A Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance arrived first and its crew offered first aids to the injured. Israeli ambulances then reached the scene and transferred the six injured persons to Israel's Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem for treatment while Israeli forces closed off the street. The location is described by locals as "always a hot place." They described how "settlers used to ambush Arabic cars using stones and other heavy objects, there have been several injuries but Israeli military was just watching without any interfering." The Israeli newspaper said: "Israeli military and police are still investigating the incident."