Israeli Settlers Storm West Bank Village of Qusra and Seize Home with Owner Inside

Israeli settlers stormed a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank on Saturday and seized a home while its owner was inside, marking the latest brazen settler attack in the area. Despite the Israeli military acknowledging that dozens of rioters were present upon arrival, authorities had yet to announce any arrests as of Sunday evening.

The settlers entered the village of Qusra early Saturday afternoon and began throwing stones at the home of Louay Adli, he told CNN. As he called Israeli police, the crowd swelled to an estimated 60 or 70 settlers.

“They surrounded us from all sides and threw stones at all of us,” Adli 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 stated that the Israeli army “watched and did nothing” before firing tear gas at the house. Video obtained by CNN appears to show a group of Israeli settlers hurling rocks at Adli's house from one side of the building, while soldiers operated on the other side.

Adli recounted that he and six others inside the home ran to the roof because they were suffocating and the army had them trapped with the settlers. He added that Israeli security forces later arrested and blindfolded him before warning him not to return to his own house.

In response to CNN's request for comment, the Israeli military stated it used what it described as “proportionate force” against a Palestinian it accused of resisting and throwing stones. The official Israeli account acknowledged that dozens of rioters were inside the Palestinian home, but did not explain why they were able to leave without any arrests. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that authorities seized three cars used as part of the raid. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the settlers “dispersed using various means” and that security forces are working to locate those involved and hold them accountable.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog called the incident in Qusra a “direct and flagrant defiance of the laws and values of the State of Israel,” describing it as part of a disturbing sequence of events that stains Israel's image and demands firm action. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the settler violence a “horrific act of terror meant to intimidate and harass.”

In a separate incident on Saturday in the West Bank town of Jalud, masked settlers attacked an NBC News crew and a Palestinian woman named Aida Ahmed Abdullah while the journalists were interviewing her about her family being forced out of their home. Correspondent Matt Bradley and the crew were attacked with sticks, prompting the Foreign Press Association to condemn the violence and call for an investigation.

Palestinian activist Ayed Jafry noted that the area around Nablus faces a constant threat of daily settler attacks, alleging a clear and organized policy of displacement between the army and settlers. While Israeli security forces stated they continue to operate in Qusra and Jalud to prevent further disturbances, Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the violence as the actions of a “handful of rioters who are violating the law.”

Amid escalating tensions, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered the military on Thursday to an elevated level of readiness in the West Bank, requiring immediate deployment of units and battalions to reinforce the area throughout the holiday period.