Residents of the occupied West Bank village of Atara have expressed outrage after an Israeli settler was filmed violently attacking a dog belonging to a Palestinian family inside their own yard. The incident, captured on video and widely circulated online, has intensified fears among villagers already living under growing pressure from nearby settlers.

The footage shows the settler repeatedly hitting the dog, Lucy, while the animal was restrained within the family’s property. According to local accounts, the dog suffered significant injuries and required urgent veterinary treatment before her condition later stabilised. Members of the family said the animal had been tied up for security purposes and had not posed any danger at the time of the attack.

The owner, who chose not to reveal his identity over fears of retaliation from settlers and Israeli forces, said the incident reflected a wider pattern of intimidation faced by Palestinians in the area. Villagers say tensions have sharply increased since a settler outpost was established on nearby Palestinian land last year, with several families reportedly leaving surrounding homes following repeated harassment and violence linked to settlers during Israel’s ongoing genocidal war in Gaza and across the occupied Palestinian territories.