Netanyahu Condemns West Bank Settler Violence as the Work of 'Handful of Rioters'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly condemned recent violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank villages of Qusra and Jalud. Describing the perpetrators as a “handful of rioters,” his remarks followed an incident where dozens of masked settlers launched attacks against Palestinian homes.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Mr Netanyahu stated that he strongly condemns the criminal acts of violence committed in Qusra and Jalud by lawbreakers violating the law. He added that these attacks cause grave injustice to the law-abiding Jewish community, interfere with Israeli military operations, and harm Israel's standing globally.

The latest attack in Qusra, located near Nablus, occurred on Saturday. It centered on a Palestinian home where seven individuals were trapped while settlers surrounded the property and threw stones, according to Reuters citing witnesses. Homeowner Luay Bayruti reported that Israeli soldiers arrived following a call for help, but subsequently handcuffed, blindfolded, and beat those inside before releasing them. A medic further stated that soldiers fired tear gas into the residence.

The Israeli military stated that troops and border police were dispatched to remove rioters and protect the residents inside the house, though it did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the alleged treatment of the Palestinians.

This incident took place only a few hundred yards away from three Palestinian homes that settlers besieged earlier in the month, trapping roughly 15 residents, including children. That siege drew international condemnation and led to a major deployment of the Israeli military. Residents noted that settlers restricted movement and access to supplies, and continued encroachments despite a heavy military presence.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also condemned the violence, describing it as the crossing of a red line and a stain on Israel's face. Mr Herzog urged the government, security forces, judicial authorities, and enforcement systems to act with all available tools to uproot the phenomenon and bring rioters to justice.

Mr Netanyahu noted that security forces responded quickly by confiscating three vehicles and concluding the incident swiftly, with the military, Shin Bet, and police conducting an intensive investigation. While the government maintains that such acts are driven by a fringe minority, rights groups dispute this view, pointing to rising attacks alongside settlement expansion and a UN inquiry alleging direct involvement by Israeli authorities in incidents affecting Palestinians.