Over 100 Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Jalud in the occupied West Bank, preventing a family from returning to their homes and clashing with Israeli troops, according to witnesses.
The incident occurred after the Tubasi family, whose two homes in Jalud had been occupied by settlers for weeks, were escorted by the Israeli military to their property late on Monday night. Shortly after their arrival, a large group of settlers descended on the village. Witnesses reported that the settlers set fire to the homes, blocked access roads, and threw rocks at Israeli soldiers, injuring three.
The Israeli military confirmed the violence and stated that the mission to return the family was unsuccessful due to the escalating clashes. Soldiers initially had the family retreat to the roof of their homes when settlers breached the property, but later evacuated them as the situation intensified.
The event underscores concerns about the Israeli government's management of settler violence in the West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the settlers' actions and called for prosecutions, though Israeli and Palestinian rights groups note that perpetrators are rarely held accountable. Wael Tubasi, one of the homeowners, described the extensive damage to the houses, stating they were "damaged beyond description" with doors, tiles, stairs, bathrooms, and windows destroyed.
On Tuesday, Reuters journalists observed that the homes' walls were blackened from tires set ablaze by the settlers. Israeli forces arrested two settlers and initiated an investigation. In separate incidents on the same day, settlers reportedly set fire to cars in the village of Al Mughayyir and spray-painted "revenge" on an apartment building.
