Israeli settlers surrounded a Palestinian home in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra on August 29, trapping at least four residents inside while throwing stones and setting fire to nearby land, according to Al Jazeera, Reuters, and other outlets. The attack occurred amid an ongoing campaign of settler violence that has left families in the area isolated for weeks, with some trapped in their homes for over a month.
Residents Describe Nightmarish Siege
Palestinian journalist Sara Abu al-Rob reported that Israeli soldiers and settlers attacked six Palestinians attempting to install protective barriers on their homes, with one injured. She cited residents claiming the military is protecting the settlers, not the residents who are trying to reach their lands.
Qusra Mayor Abdel Azim Wadi also told Al Jazeera that Israeli forces at the scene attempted to arrest the besieged Palestinians themselves.
The Israeli military stated it had removed “rioters” from the home and confiscated their vehicles, but residents said the forces failed to prevent the attacks. On August 29, the military declared the area a closed zone, restricting Palestinian movement and forcing them to take alternate, often blocked, routes.
Netanyahu Condemns Violence, but Settler Attacks Continue
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence in Qusra, calling it criminal acts of violence
committed by a handful of rioters
in a statement on X. I strongly condemn the criminal acts of violence committed in the villages of Qusra and Jalud,
he said, blaming a fringe minority
for the attacks. However, activists and residents dispute this characterization, citing a pattern of settler violence backed or overlooked by Israeli authorities.
Reuters reported that Netanyahu’s government has previously blamed a fringe minority
for settler violence, a stance criticized by rights groups. A U.N. inquiry in June found Israeli authorities directly involved in attacks that have killed, injured, and displaced Palestinians, though the Israeli mission in Geneva rejected the report’s findings. The U.S. has also pressured Netanyahu to condemn the settlers, with Ambassador Mike Huckabee calling them “terrorists” in a recent rebuke.
Despite Netanyahu’s statements, settlers continued their attacks.
Broader Context of Settler Violence and International Response
Settler violence in the West Bank has escalated since Israel’s war in Gaza began in October 2023, with attacks on Palestinian homes, businesses, and farmland becoming more frequent. Qusra has faced an escalating campaign of Israeli settler violence
over the past month, according to Al Jazeera, with settlers besieging three homes in the Ras al-Ain area and setting a mosque on fire in July.
Activists argue that the Israeli government’s settlement expansion policies have emboldened settlers. The U.N. and most countries deem settlements illegal under international law, but Israel views the West Bank as disputed territory. Settler attacks – supported or overlooked by the Israeli military – on Palestinian homes, businesses and farmland across the West Bank have been common for decades as illegal settlements have expanded across the territory.
Settler attacks have been common for decades as illegal settlements have expanded across the territory.
