Netanyahu Condemns Settler Attacks on Palestinians and Journalists

Israeli settlers launched a series of attacks across the West Bank on August 29, 2026, targeting Palestinian residents and foreign journalists. In the town of Qusra, dozens of settlers besieged Palestinian men inside a home in the Ras al-Ain area and set fire to local lands. This incident followed a 21-day period where three Palestinian homes remained under siege and the Israeli military designated the area a closed military zone.

Simultaneously, masked settlers in Jalud attacked a Palestinian woman and a reporting team from NBC News. The United Nations reported that these incidents are part of a broader increase in violence targeting Palestinian, foreign, and Israeli journalists operating in the region.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, condemned the events as "criminal acts of violence" committed by a "handful of rioters." He stated that those involved were violating the law and harming Israel's international standing. The Israel Defense Forces deployed soldiers and border police to Qusra to remove the rioters from the residence and confiscate vehicles for police investigation.