Israeli settlers torched nearly 20 cars early Monday in the occupied West Bank city of Al-Bireh near Ramallah, according to the Palestinian civil defence and an Israeli security source. Some 490,000 settlers live in settlements considered illegal under international law in the West Bank,

The Israeli military said its soldiers had engaged in close combat in the Nur Shams area of the occupied territory.

Israeli settlers often carry out arson attacks on Palestinian properties and belongings in the West Bank, as a means of violence and intimidation.

Israel says it beefed up security after Oct. 7 to protect the country from another attack. In the West Bank, Palestinians describe restrictions on daily life and a changing map that put statehood further out of reach.

The Israeli military said they killed several militants during a raid in the West Bank, in an operation that residents and humanitarian groups said caused significant damage to infrastructure.