In the early hours of Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Israeli settlers carried out a large-scale arson attack on a stone quarry in the village of Urif, south of Nablus, in the northern occupied West Bank. At first light, dozens of settlers stormed the quarry, setting fire to multiple bulldozers (front-end loaders), cargo trucks, vehicles, and industrial equipment, before physically assaulting two Palestinian workers.

The attack, carried out by illegal paramilitary Israeli settlers, resulted in extensive destruction at the "North Quarries and Crushers" site—one of the village’s main economic lifelines. Heavy machinery, vehicles, and equipment were destroyed in what residents described as one of the most severe assaults on Palestinian economic infrastructure in recent weeks. The quarry, which provides a primary source of income for dozens of families, has been repeatedly targeted over the past year.

According to the Palestinian Civil Defense, fire crews responded to massive blazes that engulfed three bulldozers, two cargo trucks, and five private vehicles belonging to local resident Essam Safadi. Firefighters worked for hours to bring the fires under control while facing ongoing threats from settler groups positioned around the area.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) confirmed that two workers were injured during the attack, noting that ambulance crews were initially prevented from reaching the site due to the presence of armed settlers.

Residents of Urif said the assault appeared coordinated and organized, fitting a broader pattern of escalating attacks targeting Palestinian industrial zones, agricultural land, and rural communities across the occupied West Bank.

According to B'tselem, dozens of Israeli settlers carrying clubs and flammable materials raided a Palestinian quarry between the villages of ‘Urif and ‘Asirah al-Qibliyah, in Nablus District in the West Bank. They assaulted the workers with stones and clubs and vandalized property. Two workers were badly bruised and taken to hospital. Eleven vehicles were torched, some of them work vehicles and others cars belonging to workers. Israel is ethnically cleansing the West Bank of Palestinians. Settler militias operating with state backing and military support are part of this policy.