Dozens of Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Qusra in the northern occupied West Bank on Saturday. The incident followed nearly three weeks of tension in the area.
Earlier this month, settlers reportedly blocked supplies from reaching Palestinian homes on the outskirts of Qusra. The dispute drew unusually strong criticism from the US ambassador.
On Saturday, residents and Israeli forces said dozens of settlers entered the village. They threw stones at Palestinians and barricaded themselves inside a house where Palestinian residents were present.
Israeli leaders condemn the violence
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a rare public condemnation of the attack. He described the perpetrators as a small group of rioters who had violated the law.
“I strongly condemn the criminal acts of violence committed in the villages of Qusra and Jalud,” Netanyahu said. He also accused the attackers of interfering with the army and damaging Israel’s international standing.
President Isaac Herzog also condemned the violence in Qusra. Israel’s Foreign Ministry described the incident as “a disgrace”, while authorities opened an investigation.
Military forces intervene at Qusra
Qusra resident Yussef Abdul Kareem Hassan told AFP that several villagers had been working at a house when a small group of settlers approached them. The settlers later returned with dozens of others.
Hassan said the group surrounded the Palestinians inside the building and began throwing stones. Israeli forces then deployed across the area as tensions increased.
The Israeli military said soldiers and border police responded after reports of violent clashes. Forces removed settlers from the house, separated the two groups and seized vehicles suspected of helping them reach the village.
West Bank violence continues to rise
The latest incident comes amid a broader increase in settler violence across the West Bank. Palestinian residents have reported repeated attacks in recent months, while critics have long raised concerns about limited legal consequences.
More than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements across the West Bank, alongside around three million Palestinians. Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal under international law.
The violence has intensified since the Gaza war began in October 2023. According to an AFP tally based on Palestinian health ministry data, Israeli forces or settlers have killed at least 1,103 Palestinians in the West Bank during that period, while Israeli figures record at least 48 Israelis killed in Palestinian attacks or Israeli military operations.
