Dozens of masked Israeli settler militants launched an assault on homes near the occupied West Bank village of Qusra over the weekend, marking the first significant attack following a recent siege by settlers that garnered international attention. Witnesses reported that the settlers, in one instance, surrounded a Palestinian residence, hurling stones while seven Palestinians were trapped inside.
Saddam Oday, one of the trapped individuals, revealed that the Israeli military deployed tear gas into the house and detained its occupants, except for him. Oday mentioned that the military detained the residents but allowed the settlers to depart without any consequences.
Luay Bayrudi, the homeowner, recounted that upon the military’s arrival, soldiers handcuffed, blindfolded, and physically assaulted those inside before eventually releasing them. The Israeli military stated that their forces intervened to remove “rioters” and ensure the safety of the house’s residents.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his initial public address on the situation in Qusra, denounced the violence and attributed it to a “handful of rioters.” He condemned the criminal acts in Qusra and a neighboring village, Jalud.
Residents reported ongoing incursions by settlers, with Bayrudi and others enduring an attack where they were pelted with stones. The assault took place near homes that were recently besieged, resulting in a massive military presence that essentially confined the residents to their houses.
Rights groups highlighted the escalating settler presence near Palestinian communities like Qusra as part of a broader strategy to annex more Palestinian land. Jewish settler violence in the West Bank has surged, partly due to the Israeli government’s support for settlement expansion. The settlements are widely considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this classification, viewing the territories as disputed rather than occupied.
The Israeli military pledged to maintain operations in Qusra and adjacent areas to prevent further disturbances and restore order. The settlements remain a contentious issue, with the international community and the United Nations condemning them as illegal. Netanyahu has not addressed the specific events in Qusra at this time.