Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly condemned violent acts by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank village of Qusra, calling the actions "criminal" and a grave injustice. The condemnation follows an attack on Saturday where dozens of settlers reportedly descended on the village, throwing stones and barricading themselves inside a Palestinian home.
The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in the northern occupied West Bank, with settlers having previously blocked supplies to Palestinian homes on the outskirts of Qusra. Israeli forces were deployed to the scene on Saturday after reports of violent clashes, including stone-throwing. The Israeli military stated that forces worked to remove the settlers from the house, separate the groups, and confiscate vehicles suspected of being used to reach the area.
In a statement, Netanyahu emphasized that the rioters' actions "violate the law, cause a grave injustice to the law-abiding Jewish community, interfere with the IDF in carrying out its missions, and harm Israel's standing in the world." He added that the security forces condemn all forms of violence.
Yussef Abdul Kareem Hassan, a Qusra resident, recounted that settlers initially approached a small group working on a house, then returned in larger numbers. Palestinians were reportedly trapped inside the structure while settlers threw stones. In a separate incident reported by Wafa news agency, settlers also attacked a Palestinian family and accompanying foreign media in the nearby village of Jalud.
Violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank has been a persistent issue, with a notable surge in attacks in recent months. Over 500,000 Israelis reside in settlements considered illegal under international law within the occupied territory, which is home to approximately three million Palestinians. Since October 2023, at least 1,103 Palestinians and 48 Israelis have been killed in the ongoing conflict.
