Israeli settlers attack more Palestinian homes in the West Bank

Israeli settlers have attacked homes surrounding the occupied West Bank village of Qusra.

Residents said dozens of militant settlers wearing masks surrounded one Palestinian property on Saturday, throwing stones as seven people ​were trapped inside.

Photos from Qusra showed settlers outside homes, as well as Israeli soldiers patrolling the site.

Luay Bayruti, the owner of the house attacked on Saturday, said that after calling the Israeli military for help, they waited an hour as settlers threw stones.

Saddam Oday, a medic who was among those trapped, said Israeli soldiers then fired tear gas into the property and detained residents inside before letting him go.

Mr Bayruti said those inside were handcuffed, blindfolded, and beaten.

Four of those trapped suffered injuries due to the tear gas, and two suffered injuries from the stones, Mr Oday said.

However, the soldiers did not detain any of the settlers and allowed them to leave, he added.

In a statement, the Israeli military said troops and border police forces were deployed to the scene to remove "rioters" and protect the residents inside the house.

The military did not immediately respond to a request for comment ​on why they had reportedly fired tear gas at the house and detained and beaten ⁠the residents.

Netanyahu condemns violence

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed a "handful of rioters" for the violence.

"I strongly condemn the ⁠criminal acts of violence committed in the villages of Qusra and Jalud," ⁠he said, referring to a separate incident in a neighbouring village.

Along with border police, the military said it would continue "to operate ​in the areas of Qusra and (neighbouring) Jalud to prevent further disturbances and restore order in the area".

UN bodies and most countries deem the Israeli settlements illegal under international law regarding military occupations. Israel rejects ‌this, viewing the area as disputed rather ​than occupied.

The latest attack occurred ‌a few hundred yards away from three homes that were besieged by setters earlier in August - an attack which led to a large Israeli military deployment in the area that residents say has kept them effectively trapped in their homes.

US ambassador Mike Huckabee was among those condemning the siege, calling it a "horrific act of terror".

One of the homes targeted earlier this month belonged to Palestinian-American Loui Ridi, who said he also watched the latest attack.

Mr Ridi said he ​had seen near-daily encroachments of Israeli settlers into the area surrounding his home, despite ​the heavy military presence in the area.

Rising violence

Rights groups say the increasing settler ​presence on the edge of Palestinian villages is part of a wider effort by settlers to seize ⁠more land from Palestinians.

Violence by settlers in the occupied West Bank has escalated, with militants seemingly emboldened by Mr Netanyahu's hardline government, which has overseen a rapid expansion ⁠in the territory.

At least 87 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed in attacks by Israeli settlers and soldiers this year, according to Palestinian officials. Three Israelis have been killed by Palestinians in 2026.

Read more:
Icelanders head to polls for EU referendum
The underground ravers in Ukraine's frontline city

In July, a mosque in Qusra was set ablaze in another apparent settler attack. That followed the killing of an Israeli settler, sparking violence that left two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinian villagers dead.

Palestinians and the Israeli opposition have accused the administration of turning a blind eye to attacks.

This week, US ‌Senate Democrats urged Mr Netanyahu to rein in the "surge" of violence by settlers and mass arrests of ​Palestinians by Israeli security forces.

(c) Sky News 2026: Israeli settlers attack more Palestinian homes in the West Bank