The US ambassador to Israel has strongly condemned recent attacks on a Christian village in Palestine, calling the perpetrators “terrorist thugs.”

Mike Huckabee, an ordained evangelical pastor, labelled the violence “terrorism” and said the attackers had “come there to create havoc”.

Masked youths were reportedly seen torching homes and vehicles in Taybeh, a prominent Palestinian Christian town. The attacks occurred amid rising tensions in the region, with some Israeli politicians claiming the state had lost control.

Israel increased air strikes on Gaza earlier this week after claiming some troops came under fire near Khan Younis.

Hospital officials reported that strikes on Wednesday killed at least 25 people, with further attacks on Thursday killing five more.

Huckabee emphasised that while most of the attackers were not actual settlers, their actions were unacceptable. “It is a very small number, mostly of youth, angry and disaffected. These are thugs,” he told News Nation.

He added that “crime is crime, terrorism is terrorism, it doesn’t matter who does it, they have to be consequenced, and harshly.”

Some arrests have been made in relation to the attacks, but no charges have been reported.