Israeli settlers clash with Palestinians in Qusra, prompting rare criticism from Netanyahu
Masked settlers attacked residents in the West Bank village of Qusra, using rocks and tear gas, while the Israeli military said it was working to restore order; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence.
Masked Israeli settlers entered the West Bank village of Qusra on Saturday, throwing rocks at residents and forcing some to seek refuge inside a home. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its forces arrived to separate the groups and remove the rioters, while also impounding settler vehicles and gathering evidence.
Palestinian witnesses reported injuries from pepper spray, attempts to set fire to nearby fields, and the use of tear gas inside the home where residents were trapped for several hours. Some accounts said IDF officers handcuffed, blindfolded and beat the occupants before releasing them, though the IDF did not comment on these allegations.
The incident follows a siege that began earlier this month in Qusra and the neighboring village of Jalud, during which settlers have repeatedly entered Palestinian homes. Rights organizations describe the settler activity as an illegal effort to seize land, a claim the Israeli government rejects.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement on the social media platform X, condemning the “criminal acts of violence” by a “handful of rioters” in Qusra and Jalud and saying they violated the law and harmed Israel’s international standing. The U.S. ambassador to Israel also criticized the settlers, labeling them as terrorists and warning of possible sanctions.
The IDF said it will continue operations in the area to prevent further disturbances and restore order.