Photos show West Bank Palestinians keeping watch at night as settler violence grows

SINJIL, West Bank (AP) — As darkness fell over the town of Sinjil in the occupied West Bank, its Palestinian residents gathered on a roadside overlooking a nearby valley. Together, they scanned the area with flashlights, searching for any signs that Israeli settlers might be approaching.

The residents are part of a volunteer night watch in Sinjil, about 15 kilometers (10 miles) northeast of Ramallah, where Palestinians say they face frequent settler attacks. When someone spots a group of settlers, they alert others by phone, mobilizing additional residents to the area to confront and push the settlers back.

On this night, the volunteer watchmen saw a group of masked settlers descending from hillside toward the town. When others from Sinjil joined to protect the area, some set the brush by the roadside ablaze, in an effort to block their advance.

Settlers threw stones and used slingshots to launch objects at Palestinian residents, who responded in kind.

The sound of gunfire later sent residents running for cover.

“This is another episode in the series of settlers’ attacks against Sinjil,” Mayor Moataz Tawafsha said.

Violence in the West Bank has surged since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, 2023, with an increase in attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and repeated Israeli military raids.

For those who live in Sinjil, the nightly watches have become a part of daily life, with no government or security force willing to protect them.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Palestinians run for cover after shots are fired during an Israeli settler attack on the West Bank village of Sinjil, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Palestinians sit next to the bonfire as they take part in a night watch to prevent Israeli settler attacks in the West Bank village of Sinjil, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A Palestinian uses a flashlight as he takes part in a night watch to protect their village against Israeli settler attacks in the West Bank village of Sinjil, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A Palestinian uses a flashlight after spotting the presence of Israeli settlers on a hill as he takes part in a night watch with other volunteers to guard against settler attacks in the West Bank village of Sinjil, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Israeli settlers, top, and Palestinians clash as brush burns along a roadside after Palestinians set it ablaze to prevent the settlers from approaching the West Bank village of Sinjil, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A Palestinian uses a slingshot during clashes with Israeli settlers as brush burns after it was set ablaze to prevent them from approaching the West Bank village of Sinjil, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Israeli settlers throw stones as brush burns along a roadside after Palestinians set it ablaze to prevent the settlers from approaching the West Bank village of Sinjil, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A Palestinian stands next to a fire after brush was set ablaze on the roadside to prevent an Israeli settler attack in the West Bank village of Sinjil, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Israeli settlers, top, and Palestinians clash as brush burns along a roadside after Palestinians set it ablaze to prevent the settlers from approaching the West Bank village of Sinjil, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Israeli settlers throw stones toward Palestinians as brush burns along a roadside after it was set ablaze to prevent the settlers from approaching the West Bank village of Sinjil, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A Palestinian uses a slingshot during clashes with Israeli settlers as brush burns after it was set ablaze to prevent them from approaching the West Bank village of Sinjil, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Israeli settlers use slingshots to hurl stones as brush burns along a roadside after Palestinians set it ablaze to prevent the settlers from approaching the West Bank village of Sinjil, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Palestinians use flashlights after spotting the presence of Israeli settlers on a hill as they take part in a night watch to protect their West Bank village of Sinjil, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Palestinians sit next to the bonfire as they take part in a night watch to guard against Israeli settler attacks in the West Bank village of Sinjil, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A Palestinian uses a flashlight after spotting Israeli settlers on a nearby hill while taking part in a night watch with other volunteers to guard against settler attacks on the West Bank village of Sinjil, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Palestinians sit next to the bonfire as they take part in a night watch to prevent Israeli settler attacks in the West Bank village of Sinjil, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A Palestinian uses a flashlight after volunteers taking part in a night watch spotted Israeli settlers on a nearby hill and set brush ablaze to prevent them from approaching the West Bank village of Sinjil, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Islam Makhachev set the UFC record with his 17th straight victory, reaching the milestone with a unanimous decision over Ian Machado Garry to successfully defend his 170-pound championship in the main event of UFC 330 on Saturday night.

Makhachev won 49-46 on two scorecards and 48-47 on the third in a competitive fight that never rose to the level of greatness.

Makhachev (29-1) was tied with UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva with 16 straight victories and has not lost since UFC 192 in 2015. Makhachev won the welterweight crown in his first attempt when he beat Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November 2025 and was never seriously challenged in his first title defense.

He set a record that stood for 13 years — and almost did it in the second round.

The 34-year-old Makhachev threw his left foot and caught Machado Garry flush with a headkick that dropped the challenger to his rear end. Makhachev pounced with a series of punches that had the crowd roaring in anticipation of a quick finish, only for Machado Garry — serenaded throughout with obscenity-laced chants — to hold on and finish the round.

Machado Garry (17-2) rallied in the fifth round with seven significant strikes landed to none for Makhachev.

Yet it wasn't enough to topple one of UFC's great fighters as Makhachev — who held the lightweight championship — continues to dominate no matter the weight class.

Mackenzie Dern successfully defended the 115-pound championship in her first title defense with a unanimous decision victory over Gillian Robertson that could set her up for a fight with division great Zhang Weili.

Dern (17-5) won the vacant strawweight belt in her last fight at UFC 321 and won a lopsided and lackluster first defense against Robertson.

Dern won 49-46 on two scorecards and 48-47 on the third.

“I wanted to get the submission with Gillian," Dern said. "I definitely wanted to submit her. That was the goal.”

Dern nearly made Robertson (17-9) tap in the first round with a choke hold that about turned the challenger’s face as pinkish-red as her braided hair. Dern might have won the bout had it stretched even another 30 seconds, but Robertson was saved by the bell.

Too bad the fight didn't end there.

The next four rounds were relatively uneventful, and the title match slowed to a near complete stop as they mostly locked up on the canvas with barely a strike thrown.

Dern's 7-year-old daughter peered her head over the barricade from her front row seat and shouted encouragement each time mom got close to her side of the cage. The little girl could be heard well over a rowdy crowd that had about been lulled into passiveness — and eventually, boos in the fifth round — in the humdrum title fight.

Edson Barboza left his fight gloves on the mat and choked back tears as he retired following a lightweight loss on the main card to Esteben Ribovics.

The 40-year-old Barboza received a standing ovation and was flanked by his family as he officially called it quits after an MMA career that began in 2009. He made his UFC debut a year later and won multiple Fight of the Night honors. He lost the last four fights of his career.

“Every single fight, I promise I did my best,” Barboza said from inside the cage.

Barboza dropped to his knees and bowed his head as he lay down his gloves and was consoled by UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer as he made the final walk back to the locker room.

UFC held only its third numbered card in Philadelphia and first fight event overall in the city since 2019.

UFC 101 was held in August 2009, and UFC 133 was in August 2011.

Philly fight fans were in the mood to make up for lost time and about packed the arena and were wild for the punishing action the preliminary fights delivered hours before the main card was set to start.

It’s a perfect fit for a city that loves their bullies.

The fans got an early reward when 39-year-old Philly fighter Jeremiah Wells — who was booed on his walkout — won via submission on the card's opening night and won over the inhospitable fans.

Tresean Gore won his middleweight fight, but lost his teeth in a unanimous decision victory over Vicente Luque.

Gore took a knee to his mouth and lost most of his bottom front teeth. They littered the cage and the fight official picked at least one up with his gloved hand. Gore pulled down his lower lip to show the bloody results as he talked to fight announcer Joe Rogan.

Charles Johnson celebrated his submission victory by leading the crowd in an off-key rendition of “Fly, Eagles, Fly.” It helps to pander. He walked out of the cage to a big ovation.

AP MMA: https://apnews.com/hub/mixed-martial-arts

Mackenzie Dern celebrates after a women's strawweight title fight against Gillian Robertson at the UFC 330 mixed martial arts event Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Mackenzie Dern, right, punches Gillian Robertson in a women's strawweight title fight at the UFC 330 mixed martial arts event Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Mackenzie Dern celebrates after a women's strawweight title fight against Gillian Robertson at the UFC 330 mixed martial arts event Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Jalin Turner reacts after a win over Kaue Fernandes in a lightweight fight at the UFC 330 mixed martial arts event Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Tresean Gore reacts after a middleweight fight against Vicente Luque at the UFC 330 mixed martial arts event Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Edson Barboza, left, walks from the ring after a lightweight fight against Esteban Ribovics at the UFC 330 mixed martial arts event Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Mackenzie Dern, left, battles Gillian Robertson in a women's strawweight title fight at the UFC 330 mixed martial arts event Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Mackenzie Dern, top, battles Gillian Robertson in a women's strawweight title fight at the UFC 330 mixed martial arts event Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)