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Israeli settlers have intensified attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank over the past week. The most prominent case involves a prolonged siege of homes in the village of Qusra near Nablus.
Starting around August 9, settlers set up an outpost in the yards of three Palestinian homes. They blocked roads, cut water and electricity, threw stones, and trapped about 15 residents including children inside with limited supplies. Families said the goal was to force them off their land.
One resident, Aysha Hassan, told Reuters the settlers “tried to break the gate” and “started throwing stones at us, cursing and insulting us.” She said her family was “dying of fear, extremely terrified.”
Another resident, Qusay Abu Ridi, posted: “We are living in our own home, on our own land, and we are asking for nothing more than the right to live safely and with dignity.”
The Israeli military called the siege “illegal, reprehensible, and unacceptable.” Troops declared a closed military zone, used tear gas in clashes with settlers, and dismantled some tents. Settlers often returned. Some early footage showed soldiers praying with settlers. Residents expressed deep distrust of the army response.
The UN human rights office condemned the actions on August 14 as criminal. It stated: “These criminal actions by the settlers, supported or acquiesced to by Israel, the Occupying Power, are making life unbearable for these Palestinian families and are clearly aimed at forcing them to leave their homes and their land.” The office warned: “Time is running out for these three families before they are forcibly displaced.”
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry described the assaults as terroristic. Meanwhile, United States Ambassador Mike Huckabee called the siege a “horrific act of terror” that same day.
Later on August 15, Reuters reported that the U.S. wanted Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to publicly condemn the settlers.
One Qusra resident, Marmar Ouda, told the news agency: “They want to expel us, they want to kill us.” He added that attacks had continued for months after his nephew was shot and killed.
Other incidents occurred around the same period. Haaretz reported on August 8 that at least 20 Palestinians were wounded over the weekend from settler raids and related military responses. Settlers fired live ammunition near Bethlehem and pepper-sprayed paramedics.
Al Jazeera reported on August 12 that settlers attacked Palestinians ploughing land in Al-Mughayyir, wounding six people including three children. Settlers also damaged a water pipeline in another area, cutting supplies to herding families. On August 14, an armed settler was filmed firing shots during a clash near Beit Sahour.
UN officials told the Security Council on August 11 that the West Bank is currently at breaking point. They cited more than 1,400 settler attacks so far in 2026, thousands of displacements, and dozens of Palestinian deaths linked to settlers or forces.
These events form part of a wider rise in settler violence this year. Israeli authorities say they work to restore order and condemn all violence. Palestinian residents and rights groups argue the attacks occur with little accountability and aim to expand control over land.
The situation in Qusra and across the West Bank remains tense. International criticism has grown, yet reports indicate settlers continue to operate near the affected homes.
Israeli rights groups and UN officials have long accused the government of facilitating or failing to stop such violence. Reuters’ latest report indicate that settlers enjoy near impunity under the far-right coalition, which backs major settlement expansion.
The UN human rights office said the Qusra actions were supported or acquiesced to by Israel as the occupying power. Arrests of settlers remain rare even after documented attacks. Critics point to government policies that ease gun ownership for settlers and slow law enforcement responses. This pattern, they argue, encourages further assaults and land takeovers.
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this is when iran, hezbollah and the houthis need to pull a 1973 surprise!… ain’t going to get any better for the dying in gaza which is beyond 700,000 and counting.