gg2
Settlers attack Qusra in West Bank
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Masked Israeli settlers attacked Qusra homes, trapping seven Palestinians inside. The attack drew rare condemnation from Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Background
Qusra, a West Bank village southeast of Nablus, has faced a wave of settler attacks, including a weeks-long siege on several Palestinian homes that drew international attention. On Saturday, dozens of masked settlers attacked homes, throwing stones and using pepper spray, trapping residents inside. The incident is the first major attack since the siege began earlier this month.
How it unfolded
- Jul 26, 2026A mosque in Qusra was burned during an attack by Israeli settlers, with Hebrew graffiti reading 'Revenge Benayahu'.
- Aug 4, 2026Settlers arrived at the home of Loui Abu Ridi, a Palestinian American, in Qusra, beginning a series of attacks.
- Aug 20, 2026Israeli soldiers patrolled as Palestinian residents remained confined inside their homes amid settler attacks.
- Aug 29, 2026Dozens of masked settlers attacked homes in Qusra, trapping seven Palestinians inside one home; IDF intervened to remove the settlers. Netanyahu condemned the violence.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the 'criminal acts of violence' by settlers, saying they violate the law and harm Israel's standing.
- Witnesses
- Residents reported being trapped in their homes as settlers threw stones and used pepper spray, with one owner saying 'anything that can make this house livable, they destroy.'
- Rights groups
- Rights groups say the settler presence is part of a wider effort to seize land from Palestinians, further encroaching on territory where Palestinians aim to establish a state.
Still unverified
It was not immediately clear whether any settlers remained inside the house or in Qusra after the military intervention.