Israeli settlers seize unfinished Palestinian home amid escalating West Bank raids

Israeli settlers have occupied an unfinished two-story home belonging to Palestinian Mohammad Salameh in the West Bank village of Jalud. Salameh reported that his appeals to the Israeli military and police for assistance were unheeded, and he fears the loss of the property intended for his recently engaged son.

Video verified by Reuters showed at least six settlers on the roof of the house. Salameh expressed concern that this seizure could lead to further land grabs in the area. The incident occurs amidst a broader context of increasing settler violence, with a UN inquiry reporting a 130% surge in attacks on Palestinian villages and agricultural land since 2023.

Residents of Jalud noted this incident as a troubling escalation because the settlers targeted a house still under construction. The village council head stated that settlers have moved to within 100 meters of another construction site. Most countries and the United Nations consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this classification.

Settlement expansion has accelerated under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which relies on pro-settlement parties. Construction on Salameh's home had stalled after the Gaza war began in 2023.

In a separate but related escalation, Israeli settlers raided several Palestinian communities across the occupied West Bank. Local reports described attacks, arrests, and confrontations involving Israeli security forces. In Arrabeh, settlers reportedly attempted to steal sheep. In Khan al-Ahmar, police arrested three residents after settlers entered the area. In Idhna, settlers entered the village while soldiers used crowd-control measures against residents. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported injuries from rubber-coated bullets and other assaults. Medics also reported two Palestinians wounded in a settler attack in Yarza.