Israeli settlers attack West Bank village, block family's return

More than 100 Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Jalud in the occupied West Bank on Monday night, setting fire to two homes and preventing a Palestinian family from returning to their property. The al-Tubasi family, escorted by Israeli forces, attempted to reclaim their homes which had been seized by settlers weeks prior. Settlers arrived after alerts were posted in coordination groups, aiming to stop the family's return.

Upon entering one of their damaged homes, the family was met with stone-throwing by settlers. Israeli security forces responded with tear gas, but were overwhelmed by the number of settlers. The family was eventually evacuated by the military, but not before settlers set fire to their car and both houses. An Israeli Defense Forces statement confirmed the presence of over 100 rioters, road blockages, and stone-throwing, noting three lightly injured police officers and damage to a security vehicle. The IDF described the family as victims of "nationalist crime" and stated the mission to return them was not completed due to the violence.

Israel's High Court had previously ruled that the al-Tubasi family must be allowed to return to their homes, criticizing the authorities' failure to curb settler violence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attacks on security forces and urged law enforcement to prosecute those involved. Israeli police have arrested three suspects.

Human rights groups, like Yesh Din, highlight that fewer than three percent of police investigations into settler violence over the past two decades have resulted in convictions, suggesting a systematic policy to displace Palestinians and expand Israeli control. The United Nations reports that settler violence has reached an all-time high this year, leading to the displacement of over 6,500 Palestinians since 2023.