Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned violence by Israeli rioters in the Binyamin region after incidents in Qusra and Jalud in which Palestinians were attacked, a home was entered, and at least one Palestinian woman was injured, calling for those responsible to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“I strongly condemn the criminal acts of violence carried out in the villages of Qusra and Jalud by a handful of rioters who violate the law, cause tremendous injustice to the law-abiding settler public, interfere with the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] in carrying out its missions, and harm Israel’s standing in the world,” Netanyahu said as Shabbat ended.
Police arrested six people following the incident in Qusra. The IDF and Border Police said dozens of Israeli rioters threw stones at Palestinians and barricaded themselves inside a Palestinian home while its residents remained inside.
IDF and Border Police forces entered the village after receiving reports of the violence, removed the Israelis from the home, and protected the Palestinian residents. Security forces also confiscated three vehicles used by the Israelis to reach the village and opened an investigation, according to the IDF.
“Moked received reports of injured Palestinians, including a Palestinian woman who was moderately injured and evacuated by the Red Crescent for medical treatment,” the IDF and Border Police statement said.
Palestinians also alleged that Jews set fire to property in Qusra.
Palestinian reports on Saturday said Israelis involved in the violence in Qusra later continued to Jalud. Footage from the scene showed armed and masked people arriving in white pickup trucks. The reports said dozens arrived after the IDF announced that vehicles had been confiscated.
Netanyahu said the IDF, Shin Bet, and police were investigating the incidents and called for swift legal action.
“I expect law enforcement authorities to arrest the rioters and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law as soon as possible,” he said.
Netanyahu said security forces had “acted quickly,” confiscating three vehicles and bringing the incident to an end within a short time.
Police say officers in the West Bank are “continuing to investigate the violent incident that happened earlier in the area of the village of Qusra.”
Settlers who have surrounded homes in the Nablus-area village for weeks entered a Palestinian house earlier today while the family was inside. The IDF said troops attempted to remove them but did not confirm whether they were successful.
Police said Border Police officers and IDF troops jointly responded in Qusra “to bring back order and disperse those involved.”
Additional officers were sent to pursue the investigation and search the area with IDF forces “to advance the investigation, while carrying out scans alongside IDF forces to locate those involved who had been dispersed.”
