Dozens of masked Israeli settlers attacked homes surrounding the occupied West Bank village of Qusra on Saturday, throwing stones at a Palestinian home where seven residents were trapped inside. This incident marks the first major attack since a settler siege earlier this month drew international condemnation.
Witnesses reported that Israeli military forces arrived at the scene and fired tear gas into the besieged home. One of the trapped residents, Saddam Oday, stated that the military detained the occupants of the house while allowing the settlers to depart without detention. Luay Bayrudi, the homeowner, corroborated this, adding that those inside were handcuffed, blindfolded, and beaten by the military before their eventual release.
The Israeli military issued a statement confirming that troops and border police responded to remove "rioters" and protect residents. However, they did not immediately address specific questions regarding the use of tear gas against the house or the detention and physical treatment of its occupants. Bayrudi, who sustained a bandaged arm from a thrown stone, noted that the military's arrival did not cease the settlers' actions for over an hour.
Oday, who is a medic, reported that four individuals inside suffered injuries from tear gas exposure, while two sustained injuries from stones. The attack occurred in close proximity to three homes that were under siege by settlers earlier in August, an event that prompted significant international criticism and a substantial Israeli military deployment. Loui Ridi, a Palestinian-American whose home was among those targeted previously, observed Saturday's attack from his residence and reported near-daily encroachments by settlers despite the heavy military presence.
Human rights organizations contend that the escalating settler presence near Palestinian villages like Qusra is part of a broader strategy to seize Palestinian land, thereby diminishing territory designated for a future Palestinian state. Violence perpetrated by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank has reportedly been increasing, with some observers attributing this to emboldenment from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which has facilitated extensive settlement expansion. The Israeli military has stated its continued operational commitment in the Qusra and Jalud areas to prevent further disturbances and restore order.
The United Nations and a majority of nations consider Israeli settlements in occupied territories to be illegal under international law. Israel, however, disputes this classification, characterizing the territory as disputed rather than occupied.
