A group of masked Israeli settler extremists launched an assault on homes near the occupied West Bank village of Qusra over the weekend, marking a significant incident following a previous settler siege that sparked global outrage. Witnesses reported that the settlers encircled a Palestinian residence, pelting it with stones while seven individuals were trapped inside.
Saddam Oday, one of the trapped individuals, recounted that the Israeli military discharged tear gas into the house and detained the occupants but released him. He highlighted the military’s failure to apprehend any of the settlers involved and their permission for them to depart.
The homeowner, Luay Bayrudi, described how soldiers arrived, handcuffed, blindfolded, and physically assaulted those inside before eventually letting them go. The Israeli military stated that their troops intervened to disperse “rioters” and safeguard the residents within the house.
Issues arose as to why tear gas was used against the house, and why the residents were detained and subjected to violence, with the military yet to provide a response. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence in Qusra, attributing it to a small group of troublemakers.
Residents reported frequent incursions by settlers, with Bayrudi and others enduring a harrowing ordeal as they were targeted by stones and tear gas during the recent attack. The assault occurred near three homes previously besieged by settlers, prompting international condemnation and a substantial Israeli military presence that essentially confined residents to their homes.
The escalating settler presence near Palestinian communities like Qusra is seen as part of a broader campaign to annex more Palestinian land, encroaching on the territory earmarked for a future Palestinian state. Jewish settler violence in the occupied West Bank has surged, with some settlers emboldened by the policies of Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has overseen a significant expansion of settlements without addressing the situation in Qusra.
The Israeli military pledged to maintain a presence in Qusra and neighboring Jalud to prevent further disturbances and restore order. While the settlements are considered illegal under international law, Israel disputes this, considering the area as disputed rather than occupied.