Palestinian village was just stormed by Israeli settlers to seize a home, with the owner still inside. Military claims there were ‘dozens of rioters’

Israeli settlers stormed a Palestinian home in the village of Qusra on Saturday, trapping the owner and others inside as tensions in the occupied West Bank continue to climb. This incident marks the latest in a series of aggressive encounters that have left residents feeling increasingly vulnerable in their own neighborhoods.

According to CNN, the settlers entered Qusra early Saturday afternoon and began hurling stones at the home of Louay Adli. Adli recounted that he immediately contacted Israeli police as the crowd grew to an estimated 60 or 70 settlers. “They surrounded us from all sides and threw stones at all of us,” he said. “This went on for a whole hour until the army came from in front of the house, while the settlers were from behind.”

Adli told CNN that the Israeli army “watched and did nothing” before firing tear gas directly at the house. Video footage seems to confirm this, showing both parties on either side of the building. Adli and six others eventually fled to the roof because they could not breathe inside the home. He described feeling trapped between the soldiers and the settlers, claiming that security forces later arrested and blindfolded him, warning him not to return to his own property.

Escalating tensions

The official account from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and border police reportedly claims they identified “dozens of rioters” who had barricaded themselves inside the home. They stated that the rioters were “dispersed using various means.” 

They also told CNN that the response was of “proportionate force” to the actions of a Palestinian they accused of throwing stones and resisting. Perhaps a glaring example of desensitization to the escalating aggression is the upcoming gallows being built for Palestinians with viewing booths. 

Notably, the IDF did not explain why the settlers were able to leave without facing any immediate arrests. As of Sunday evening, no arrests had been reported. Per CNN, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that authorities seized three cars involved in the raid. However, the lack of accountability for the individuals involved remains a major point of frustration for the local community.

The violence wasn’t contained to Qusra, either. A separate report by NBC News details a disturbing attack in the nearby town of Jalud. An NBC News crew was interviewing a Palestinian woman named Aida Ahmed Abdullah regarding her family being forced out of their home when masked settlers approached in a gray car. The vehicle drove in reverse toward the group, and at least four men leaped out to assault the team and Abdullah with sticks and rocks.

“They jumped out, beat us, then jumped back in the car,” said NBC News international correspondent Matt Bradley, who sustained arm injuries during the attack. Producer Lawahez Jabari noted that she even saw a gun, though it wasn’t used. 

NBC Camera operator Khaldoon Eid expressed his shock at the brazen nature of the attack. He said, “We didn’t expect that — that they would come to attack. We were in the middle of a Palestinian area next to Palestinian houses.” 

In Qusra, Reuters spoke to others who were caught in the middle of the violence. Saddam Oday, a medic who was trapped, claimed the military fired tear gas into the home and detained the residents while allowing the settlers to walk away. Luay Bayruti, the owner of the house, told Reuters that he was handcuffed, blindfolded, and beaten by the military after they arrived. Bayruti showed a reporter a bandaged arm, which he said was injured by a stone thrown by a settler.

Netanyahu has since condemned the violence. However, he repeated the IDF’s narrative, describing the perpetrators as a “handful of rioters” and stating that he expects law enforcement to bring them to justice. However, many residents and activists feel the reality on the ground contradicts this characterization. Ayed Jafry, a Palestinian activist, told CNN that the displacement policy feels organized and deliberate between the army and the settlers.

The situation is undoubtedly complex, with more than 700,000 Israeli settlers now living in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Last year, these settlers were thrust into the spotlight as a result of a documentary filmed by Louis Theourx. While the international community largely considers these settlements illegal, Israel’s current government has prioritized their expansion. 

With the IDF ordering an elevated level of readiness in the region, the coming weeks look incredibly tense. It’s a volatile environment where the safety of civilians and journalists is being challenged daily, and for those living in villages like Qusra and Jalud, the feeling of being trapped is becoming a grim new normal.