Two masked Israeli settlers arrived in the West Bank village of Duma early Friday and set two houses on fire, killing an 18-month-old baby and leaving graffiti reading “Revenge” in Hebrew.

The members of Dawabsha family ran out of their burning house, but their baby boy Ali was trapped inside and burned alive. Ali’s father, mother and older brother were critically injured and were later transferred to a hospital in Israel.

Hours after the arson attack, hundreds gathered in the village for Ali’s funeral. After the Friday prayer, his body was taken to the local cemetery.

Palestinian Prime Minster Rami Hamdallah arrived to the scene and said inside the burned house that it is the Israeli government’s responsibility for this attack, as some members speak against Palestinians on a daily basis.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ office issued a statement saying, “We must reinforce and activate people and peaceful resistance on all levels and on all tracks in order to confront and deter the terror of settlers who are protected by (Israel).”

The attacks took place only two days after Israeli police evicted and demolished two houses that were built without permits in the settlement of Beit El near Ramallah.

Hundreds of settlers were protesting and clashing with police before and during the demolition.

After the funeral, Palestinian youth clashed with the Israeli army at the Hawara checkpoint, near the city of Nablus.

Photos of 18-month-old Palestinian toddler Ali Saad Dawabsha, who died when his family’s house was set on fire by Jewish settlers in the West Bank village of Duma, lie on the ground of his burned house, July 31, 2015

Palestinians look at the damage as they stand in a house set on fire by Jewish settlers and where 18-month-old Palestinian toddler Ali Saad Dawabsha died on July 31, 2015, in the West Bank village of Duma.

A Palestinian man looks at his burnt house after two houses were set on fire by Jewish settlers in the West Bank village of Duma on July 31, 2015. His house is the second one that was set on fire; nobody in his house was injured.

Graffiti reading “revenge”  in Hebrew outside the damage after two houses were set on fire by Jewish settlers in the West Bank village of Doma on July 31, 2015.

Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah (C) visits a house that was set on fire by Jewish settlers in the West Bank village of Duma on July 31, 2015.

Relatives of 18-month-old Palestinian toddler Ali Saad Dawabsha, who died after his house was set on fire by Jewish settlers, mourn next to his body lying at a mosque during his funeral in the West Bank village of Duma, July 31, 2015.

Relatives carry the body of 18-month-old Palestinian toddler Ali Saad Dawabsha, who died after his house was set on fire by Jewish settlers, during his funeral in the West Bank village of Duma, July 31, 2015.

Relatives carry the body of 18-month-old Palestinian toddler Ali Saad Dawabsha, who died after his house was set on fire by Jewish settlers, during his funeral in the West Bank village of Duma, July 31, 2015.

Relatives mourn during the funeral of 18-month-old Palestinian toddler Ali Saad Dawabsha, who died after his house was set on fire by Jewish settlers, in the West Bank village of Duma, July 31, 2015.

Palestinian protesters throw stones during clashes with Israeli troops following the killing of a 18-month-old Palestinian toddler, at the Israeli Hawara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus, July 31, 2015.

Palestinian protesters run to take cover during clashes with Israeli troops following the killing of a 18-month-old Palestinian toddler, at the Israeli Hawara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus July 31, 2015.

Palestinian protesters are seen during clashes with Israeli troops following the killing of a 18-month-old Palestinian toddler, at the Israeli Hawara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus, July 31, 2015. A fire broke out in a field in the area after Israeli soldiers shot tear gas canisters.

Left-wing activists protest against the firebombing of two Palestinian homes by Israeli settlers, Aug. 1, 2015, in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Left-wing activists protest against the firebombing of two Palestinian homes by Israeli settlers, Aug. 1, 2015, in Tel Aviv, Israel.

All photos and text by Oren Ziv.


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