West Bank Settlers' Attacks on Palestinians Condemned

In short

Palestinians in a West Bank community say Israeli soldiers are helping settlers force them off their land.

There has been more violence recently, and US ambassador Mike Huckabee criticized the settlers' behavior.

Some Israeli security officials say the military is not doing enough to reduce tensions.

A group of Palestinians in a small West Bank village have been under attack by Israeli settlers for almost a week.

US ambassador Mike Huckabee called the settlers 'Israeli terrorists' and asked for them to be removed.

Israeli settlers have been attacking homes in Qusra, about 50 kilometers north of Jerusalem, for months.

The attacks have gotten worse, with power and water cut off to the Palestinian homes.

The Israeli military sent soldiers to the area, but the settlers stayed, and more troops were deployed.

A Palestinian, Qusai Abu Ridi, described the situation as dire.

They lack basic necessities.

Settlers terrorize them at night, throwing stones at their house.

Qusra has seen repeated settler attacks on Palestinian residents.

Qusai had to move into his brother's empty house as settlers advanced.

He was then forced to move again.

An army officer told him to evacuate the house.

Over 130 Palestinians were detained in weekend raids across the West Bank.

Qusai and his family moved to another house, which the military also asked them to leave.

When spoken to, Qusai was in a third house with about a dozen people.

The military later said residents could stay in their homes.

Soldiers will not enter the Palestinian family's home near the dismantled tent.

Only some families were allowed back home, with settlers still nearby.

Settlers remained after some Palestinian families returned home.

Ruqiya Hasan recorded a voice note for the community and supporters.

If they are martyred, they want to be buried at home to show the settlers' crimes.

IDF troops were seen praying with settlers.

CCTV footage shows Jewish settlers throwing rocks in Qusra.

Settlers threw rocks at homes and tried to dismantle a stone wall.

When soldiers arrived, some were seen praying with settlers.

Settlers and people in military uniforms were outside a Palestinian's house in Qusra.

More troops were sent to disperse the settlers, using tear gas.

The settlers returned hours later.

Mr. Huckabee said the IDF and Israel Police would remove the settlers.

He called the actions of those attacking the family's home 'criminal'.

The actions were meant to intimidate and harass the family.

Abed Al Hakim Wadi doubts the Israeli military's claims of cracking down on settlers.

Mr. Huckabee shared video of Israeli forces driving through Qusra.

But Abed Al Hakim Wadi said it was just talk.

The embassy's talk with Israelis about stopping settlers is just for the media.

They didn't do anything to the settlers, it's just in the media.

They said they would send soldiers and a bulldozer, but nothing was done.

The ABC asked the IDF for comment on allegations of complicity in violence.

The IDF said soldiers would let Qusra residents stay in their homes.

Mr. Huckabee later said 'unsettlers' were the problem, not settlers.

He described them as a small minority causing damage to Palestinian families and Israel.

Mr. Huckabee has long supported the Israeli settler movement.

Attacks are growing.

Israeli media reports the IDF is stretched thin across the West Bank.

Security establishment members accuse the IDF of a PR stunt and failing to defuse the situation.

Key members of Netanyahu's cabinet have voiced support for settlers.

The Netanyahu government is accused of supporting and encouraging settlers.

Cabinet ministers have promoted settlement expansion and efforts to force Palestinians to flee.

This has fueled fear in the Palestinian community that the military allows settlers to act with impunity.

There are over half a million Israeli settlers in the West Bank and 200,000 in East Jerusalem.

Their occupation of the land is deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice.

There are 146 official settlements, 163 outposts, and 237 settler farms across the West Bank.

Many are established near Palestinian communities, encircling towns and villages.

Qusra has been targeted before.

Late last month, the ABC documented a settler firebombing of a mosque.

Graffiti reading 'revenge' was spray-painted on the building.

A partially constructed mosque in Qusra was attacked and set on fire.

It followed a shooting incident where two Israelis and four Palestinians were killed.

The settlers accused Palestinians of attacking them, while Palestinians said Israelis were the aggressors.

This triggered days of violence and a major Israeli military crackdown.

The community argued they were being blamed for defending themselves.

See more ABC coverage.

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