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Thousands of Israeli settlers stormed through Hebron in a frenzy on Saturday afternoon during a religious march, attacking Palestinians and their homes under the protection of Israeli forces. 

The settlers robbed shops and threw stones at Palestinian residents in the centre of the city, and throughout the neighbourhoods of Tel Armeida, Jaber, al-Salamiye and others.  

Videos posted to social media show Israeli soldiers protecting the route of the settlers as they wreaked havoc, celebrating Chayei Sarah - a Jewish festival remembering the life of the prophet Abraham wife Sarah. 

According to the zionist settler movement, Chayei Sarah also marks Abraham’s purchase of the Cave of Machpelah - the site of the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron - which is a cornerstone for settlers legitimising Israel’s presence in the occupied West Bank. 

صورة أخرى من صورة عربدة اليهود أمس في الخليل.

هكذا اعتدوا على الفلسطينيين.

ثم يستهجنون موجة عمليات المقاومة التي تستهدف هذه السوائب البشرية.

العالم المنافق الذي يصمت على هذه الفظائع يسارع للتنديد بمظاهر الدفاع عن النفس التي يمثلها الفعل المقاوم.

وماذا عن المطعين؟.

— د.صالح النعامي (@salehelnaami)

For the first time, the religious march took a new, expanded route through the city down central Shalala street, in the direction of Bab al-Zawiya - a centre for Palestinian trade. 

The settlers destroyed properties and attacked local residents along the route - and when Palestinians attempted to resist and protect their homes and businesses, Israeli forces opened fire.

بحماية الجيش ودعم سلطات الاحتلال وبعد طرد السكان العرب واجبارهم على اغلاق محلاتهم ونصب حواجز عنصرية / نحو الف مستوطن مسلح يهاجمون اهل الخليل ويعربدون في شوارع المدينة بشكل همجي والاهالي العزل يتصدون لهم بايديهم

— د. ناصر اللحام (@nasserlaham4)

Elsewhere in Hebron, Israeli soldiers stormed two houses close to the Ibrahimi mosque, arresting several residents over ‘suspicious packages’ - which turned out to be refuse sacks, according to rights groups. 

Several Palestinians were taken to medical facilities for treatment nearby by overstretched ambulance services - including one young man who may lose his left eye. 

The march comes in the wake of Israeli elections which have resulted in the most extreme right-wing government in Israeli history, further empowering the settler movement to commit acts of violence against Palestinians across the West Bank.