ISRAELI soldiers were accused of trying to spread coronavirus in a Palestinian town in the occupied West Bank today after spitting on vehicles and doors while dumping used gloves and needles near people’s homes.

Troops were also reported to have attacked the home of freed Palestinian prisoner Fida Ikhil,l where they spat at people and shouted racist insults.

The incidents took place in the town of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron. Local activist Mohammad Awan reported that “illegal settlers” had also flooded local grape farms with sewage.

They came from the Gush Etzion cluster, close to the town, pouring waste into the plantations in a deliberate attempt to damage crops, Mr Awan said.

He explained that it was just the latest in a series of attacks by illegal settlers, often carried out in the presence of Israeli security forces.

Such actions are rarely prosecuted by Israel, while the Palestinian Authority has no jurisdiction over Israeli settlers.

Local volunteers from the Beit Ummar Emergency Committee  cleaned up the areas and burned the rubbish left behind by the soldiers.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed 15 new coronavirus cases in the West Bank today, raising the total in Palestine to 252.