Israeli Government Needs to Confront Settler Terrorism

August 13, 2026 – Starting on Sunday, settlers have held two Palestinian families under siege in their own homes on the outskirts of Qusra, south of Nablus. They pitched a tent in a family's yard, blocked the access roads, and cut the water and electricity, leaving the families unable to come or go and blocking deliveries of food, water, and medicine. When journalists arrived to document it, settlers blocked them, assaulted them, and stole their equipment. This incident follows months of settler harassment of residents of the villages.

Israeli soldiers were present for much of this. It took days before they took any action to disperse the settlers, who quickly returned. 

Peace Now, in an urgent appeal on Tuesday to IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth and Police Commissioner Danny Levy, described what is happening accurately: "This is not an isolated incident or routine 'friction' between populations, but organized, violent criminal behavior in which a group of settlers forcibly seized land that does not belong to them, terrorized Palestinian residents, and is attempting to establish facts on the ground through violence." U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee called it a "horrific act of terror" and called the perpetrators "Israeli terrorists." 

Today, the IDF finally moved in force, but instead of taking action against the settlers who were terrorizing the villagers, the IDF evicted Palestinian families from 16 homes. Eventually, the IDF reversed itself, allowing at least some of the families to return to their homes. Families who did return say troops damaged their property and that money and equipment were taken. 

Hadar Susskind, President and CEO of New Jewish Narrative, said,

“For almost four years, the Israeli government has been actively supporting settler terrorism. They have clipped the wings of law enforcement efforts, provided funding to settler militias, and coddled terrorists – just last month, Defense Minister Israel Katz paid a personal visit to a settler who is in detention after taking part in a raid on a West Bank village. That attack reportedly included sexual abuse, beatings, looting, and property destruction.  

“This needs to stop. The Israeli government must end this violence before it ignites another powder keg. Settlers cannot be allowed to go on rampages, and the IDF must respect Palestinian property and Palestinian rights. As the occupying power, Israel's duty is not to manage the violence, or to investigate it after the fact, or to relocate its victims. Its duty is to protect the civilians under its control.

“The Israeli government must change course. It should start in Qusra.”