IDF fails to remove settler extremists besieging Palestinian home in West Bank

The Israel Defense Forces made a failed bid on Wednesday to clear out an illegal settler outpost blocking the entrance to Palestinian homes in the West Bank village of Qusra, south of Nablus, after the army’s plan was apparently leaked to the media in advance, prompting dozens of settler activists to swarm to the area in support of the outpost.

A Palestinian family living in one of the homes on the outskirts of the village has been trapped inside since Sunday, after extremist settlers set up temporary structures there, staking a wildcat claim to the land. Nobody has been able to leave or enter the home since then, except for a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance on Tuesday evening, which evacuated a girl who required medical treatment and delivered food to the family. The settlers also cut off the family’s water and electricity lines.

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On Wednesday morning, IDF troops and Border Police forces were deployed to Qusra to dismantle the outpost and remove the settler activists from the area, but upon their arrival, they found that the road leading to the besieged Palestinian homes had been obstructed with rocks, cutting off access.

“Border Police forces evacuated the canopy and are working to evacuate the civilians who were staying there,” the army said, referring to the outpost. “The incident is ongoing at this time, and security forces are on the ground.”

Ultimately, the soldiers were unable to clear out the outpost and left after several hours, having dismantled the temporary structures without removing the settlers.

The military had been hoping to carry out the evacuation with minimal attention and interference, but the plan was reportedly leaked to the media ahead of time, leading to the clashes between security forces and settlers.

“The evacuation of the outpost in Qusra was leaked to the media before the outpost was actually evacuated,” a security source told Army Radio.

“This caused dozens of Jewish rioters to have time to arrive at the site before the forces actually managed to evacuate the outpost. There is now a mass riot by dozens of settlers in the village.”

המצור בקוסרה: פורעים יהודים חוסמים את הדרכים עם אבנים@HGoldich pic.twitter.com/yGuN6JVMpY

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) August 12, 2026

Youssef Hassan, the owner of one of the besieged homes, told The Times of Israel that large numbers of settlers had arrived from outposts in the area, apparently after news of the planned evacuation spread, and that Border Police officers were using riot dispersal means against them, including tear gas.

IDF Central Command Chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth was also present in the area, having met with the Palestinian family earlier in the day along with other senior military officials.

Hassan confirmed to The Times of Israel that the entrance to his home remained blocked.

Soldiers briefly returned several hours later but left shortly after.

Several hours later, the IDF said an infantry battalion would be dispatched to the West Bank to bolster the troops attempting to deal with provocations and attacks by settlers against Palestinians.

It said the decision was made during an assessment held by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir with senior officers regarding the situation in Qusra.

“The chief of staff instructed the continuation of efforts to strengthen order and operational control in the area, as well as to prevent the continuation of the serious incidents,” the IDF said.

It said Zamir ordered a standing army infantry battalion, currently on a break between operational activity, to be deployed to the Qusra area “to strengthen operational control.” Additional forces will be on standby “for deployment as required.”

It clarified that it was still working alongside the police and Shin Bet to restore order to the area and “bring the rioters to justice.”

Zamir also instructed that all troops in the West Bank “be given clear guidance regarding the rules of conduct and the use of force in incidents of this type.”

Though unsuccessful, Wednesday’s push to clear the outpost was the first action taken on the matter by the IDF since Sunday. The army had previously only denounced the “illegal, reprehensible and unacceptable” establishment of settler outposts without explaining why it had not moved to dismantle them.

The military also confirmed on Wednesday that it would be taking disciplinary action against troops who were caught praying alongside the settlers outside the besieged homes on Sunday rather than removing them from the area, and hinted at several other steps it would be taking against the involved settlers.

It said that Bluth had addressed these issues while at the failed evacuation attempt and while touring several other nearby outposts along with West Bank division chief Brig. Gen. Kobi Heller and the commander of the Border Police’s West Bank division, Assistant Commissioner Niso Guetta.

“During the tour, the commanders seriously addressed the actions carried out by Israeli civilians against the Palestinian family, and ordered a number of steps going forward,” the army said, without detailing them.

“It was also decided to take disciplinary action against the force involved that was documented at the site several days ago,” the military added, referring to the footage of the troops praying alongside the settlers.

Since a deadly clash in the Palestinian village of Tell last month, when two Israelis and four Palestinians were killed, Israeli settlers have established 13 illegal outposts in the area, just two of which have been fully demolished.

More than 2,200 Palestinians have been displaced this year due to settler violence or access restrictions, while hundreds more have been displaced due to home demolitions by Israeli authorities, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the United Nations secretary-general, said in June, citing the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Settler violence has mounted in recent years, with near-daily, sometimes deadly attacks taking place throughout the West Bank, but with few suspects arrested and charged. Critics accuse the government of condoning or even encouraging the attacks.

The number of serious incidents of “nationalistic crime” committed by extremist Jewish settlers in the West Bank surged by 63 percent during the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, from 405 attacks to 660 attacks in the corresponding periods, the Kan public broadcaster reported Monday, citing security establishment figures.

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