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Red Cross says settler violence in West Bank 'untenable' after mob attack on Palestinian family

More than 100 settlers overpower Israeli security forces to block family's court-ordered return to their homes in Jalud

By LineZotpaper
Published
Updated
Read Time2 min
Sources3 outlets
The International Committee of the Red Cross has declared that Israeli settler violence has made everyday life for Palestinians 'untenable', after a mob of more than 100 militant settlers overwhelmed Israeli security forces early Tuesday to attack a Palestinian family attempting to reclaim their homes in the West Bank village of Jalud, setting two houses on fire and injuring three Israeli security officials.

The attack, which human rights groups say illustrates the failure of Israeli authorities to take effective action against settler violence, came as the al-Tubasi family tried to return to their properties under military escort following a High Court ruling earlier this month that they must be allowed to go back.

Mahmoud al-Tubasi, whose family was forced to leave this summer after weeks of settler harassment, said he expected to be killed. 'It was extremely terrifying, beyond words. It's hard to imagine the situation,' he told the BBC. 'My feeling now is that I am happy to have escaped death.'

The Guardian reports that the attack prompted one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main rivals to warn of 'a campaign of settler terror'. Extremist settlers had established an illegal outpost near Jalud and besieged three houses, including two belonging to the al-Tubasis' sons.

The International Committee of the Red Cross condemned the assault, stating that ongoing settler violence makes everyday life for Palestinians untenable.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The attack demonstrates a direct challenge to the authority of Israel's High Court, which had ordered the family's return.
  • It highlights the growing frequency and severity of settler violence in the occupied West Bank, with Israeli security forces reportedly unable or unwilling to prevent it.
  • The incident may fuel international scrutiny of Israeli settlement policy and the Palestinian Authority's inability to protect its citizens.

Background

The West Bank has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967. Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. The village of Jalud, south of Nablus, has been a flashpoint for settler-Palestinian tensions. Earlier this year, an illegal outpost was established near the village, leading to weeks of harassment against the al-Tubasi family, who eventually fled. Israel's High Court ruled in September that the family must be allowed to return to their homes.

Key Perspectives

The al-Tubasi family: They view the attack as a life-threatening attempt to permanently dispossess them, despite a court order in their favour. Human rights groups: They accuse Israeli authorities of failing to enforce the law against settler violence, effectively enabling such attacks. Israeli political opposition: A rival of Prime Minister Netanyahu has framed the attack as part of a broader campaign of 'settler terror', signalling a potential political rift over security and rule of law in the West Bank.

What to Watch

  • Whether the Israeli military or police will take any action against the settlers involved in the attack.
  • The status of the High Court order and whether the family can eventually return under stronger protection.
  • International reactions, including potential statements from the UN, EU, or the US administration.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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