Hundreds of Israeli settlers attack Palestinian family in West Bank, injuring security forces
More than 100 militant settlers overwhelmed Israeli forces to attack a Palestinian family returning to their homes in Jalud, injuring three security officials and drawing unusually sharp condemnation from Israeli officials.
Early on Tuesday, more than 100 militant settlers overpowered Israeli security forces as they attacked the Palestinian Tubasi family, who were attempting to return to homes in the West Bank village of Jalud after a court ordered their reinstatement. The family had been driven out during a weeks-long siege by settlers earlier this summer.
As military police escorted the family home, the crowd forced them onto the roof of their house before troops evacuated them in armoured vehicles. Settlers then set the homes ablaze, blocked roads and threw stones at security forces, injuring three officers. A family member told Reuters the houses were left completely destroyed, with doors, windows, tiling and bathrooms smashed.
Sharp criticism at home
The assault triggered unusually harsh condemnation within Israel. President Isaac Herzog called it a "moral stain," while former military chief and leading Netanyahu rival Gadi Eisenkot demanded action against a "campaign of terror and violence." Analysts noted that deadlier settler attacks on Palestinians typically draw far less domestic attention — this incident stood out because of the military's apparent loss of control and the injuries to its own personnel.
Mounting international pressure
The International Committee of the Red Cross said settler violence, settlement expansion and movement restrictions were making daily life untenable for Palestinians and violated Israel's obligations under international law. The Netherlands has already banned imports of settlement goods, the UK is planning broader trade restrictions, and similar legislation is expected in the US Congress. According to the Israeli rights group B'Tselem, more than 60 Palestinian communities in the West Bank have been wiped out since October 2023, with nearly 5,000 people displaced, almost half of them children.
Netanyahu condemned the "violent riots" but defended the broader settler movement, saying the perpetrators did not represent law-abiding settlers. A military spokesperson confirmed two suspects had been detained.
