Dozens of Israeli settlers launched a violent assault on the Palestinian village of Qusra in the northern occupied West Bank on Saturday, triggering rare public condemnation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The attack occurred nearly three weeks after settlers first began blocking essential supplies from reaching Palestinian homes on the outskirts of the village near Nablus, leaving residents confined and drawing sharp criticism from the U.S. ambassador.
Despite ongoing tensions, Israeli military forces remained active in the region, while settlers continued to roam the surrounding hills unchecked.
Local residents and military sources reported that on Saturday, large groups of settlers descended upon Qusra, hurling stones at locals and barricading themselves inside a house occupied by Palestinians.
In neighboring Jalud, settlers also targeted a Palestinian family and disrupted a foreign media crew documenting their activities, according to the Palestinian official news agency Wafa.
“I strongly condemn the criminal acts of violence committed in the villages of Qusra and Jalud by a handful of rioters who are violating the law, tarnishing the law-abiding Jewish community, obstructing IDF operations, and damaging Israel’s international reputation,” Netanyahu stated in an official statement.
Qusra resident Yussef Abdul Kareem Hassan recounted to AFP that he and other villagers were working on a house when they were approached by a small group of settlers.
“They called for reinforcements and returned with dozens more,” Hassan said. “They surrounded us inside the house and started throwing stones.”
Footage from AFP showed significant deployment of Israeli security forces at the scene in Qusra on Saturday.
– Surging Violence
The Israeli military confirmed that soldiers and border police were deployed following reports of clashes involving stone-throwing toward Palestinians and other civilians.
“Upon arrival, our forces identified dozens of rioters barricaded inside a Palestinian home while residents were present,” the military said in a statement, acknowledging reports of Palestinian injuries.
Forces managed to extract the settlers from the property, separate conflicting parties, and seize vehicles believed to have been used in the infiltration.
These vehicles will serve as evidence in an ongoing police investigation, with security personnel continuing operations to prevent further unrest and restore order.
“The security forces unequivocally condemn all forms of violence,” the statement concluded.
Settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has persisted for years, frequently without legal repercussions. However, recent months have seen a marked escalation in such incidents.
Over 500,000 Israeli settlers currently reside in settlements throughout the Palestinian territory, which are considered illegal under international law, amid a Palestinian population of approximately three million.
Israel has maintained control over the West Bank since 1967.
Data from the Palestinian Health Ministry indicates that Israeli forces or settlers have killed at least 1,103 Palestinians in the West Bank, including both combatants and civilians, since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023.
Israeli authorities report that at least 48 Israelis—including civilians and security personnel—have died in Palestinian attacks or during military operations during the same timeframe.
