West Bank settler violence escalated dramatically in the Palestinian village of Jalud, south of Nablus, when more than 100 Israeli settlers reportedly attacked a family attempting to return to homes seized weeks earlier. Two houses belonging to the al-Tubasi family were set on fire during the confrontation, while Israeli security forces were also targeted.
The incident has renewed scrutiny of law enforcement in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinian residents and human rights organisations say settler attacks are becoming more frequent and increasingly destructive.
West Bank settler violence blocks court-ordered return
Mahmoud al-Tubasi, 60, returned to Jalud with his wife Aida and their adult son after Israel’s High Court ruled that the family must be permitted to reclaim its properties. The family had been forced to leave during the summer following weeks of harassment and attacks linked to an illegal settler outpost near the village.
Israeli forces accompanied the family during the attempted return. However, shortly after they entered one of the damaged homes, a large group of settlers reportedly arrived after messages circulated in WhatsApp groups calling for the family to be stopped.
Al-Tubasi said stones were thrown at the family and that soldiers used tear gas against the crowd. He described the situation as terrifying and said he believed the attackers might kill him and his relatives.
Homes damaged before fires were started
Video footage showed extensive damage inside one of the properties before it was set alight. Doors had been broken, windows smashed, electrical fittings removed and floor tiles torn up. The bathroom had also been damaged, while rubbish was scattered throughout the building.
According to the family, settlers later slashed the tyres of a military vehicle and set fire to the family’s car and both houses as the occupants were being evacuated. Smoke could be seen rising from the properties in footage filmed from a distance.
The Israeli military said more than 100 people were involved in the disturbance. It reported that roads were blocked, tyres were burned and stones were thrown at security personnel. Three police officers were lightly injured and a security vehicle was damaged, according to the military.
Israeli authorities face questions over settler attacks
The Israeli military described the al-Tubasi family as victims of “nationalist crime” and said that the planned return could not be completed because of the violence. The family was removed from the area under military protection, but Mahmoud al-Tubasi said he saw no effective action taken against the settlers who attacked them.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attacks on security forces and called for those responsible to be prosecuted. Police said three people had been arrested in connection with the violence.
That response has not satisfied human rights organisations. The incident followed a court ruling that criticised Israeli authorities for failing to prevent settler violence and ordered the family’s safe return by 20 September.
Human rights groups cite low conviction rates
Israeli human rights organisation Yesh Din says fewer than 3% of police investigations into settler violence over the past two decades have resulted in convictions. Its executive director, Ziv Stahl, argued that the limited accountability reflects a wider pattern of policy in the West Bank.
Israeli ministers and settlement supporters claim historical, religious and legal rights to the territory. However, Israeli settlements and unauthorised outposts in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal under international law. The expansion of settlements remains one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
UN records rising West Bank violence
The United Nations has reported record levels of settler violence this year. Since 2023, more than 6,500 Palestinians have reportedly been displaced because of attacks and restrictions on access to land and homes.
The UN humanitarian office has recorded thousands of incidents involving injuries, deaths or property damage. It says at least 82 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank this year, alongside four Israeli deaths involving civilians and security personnel. At least 23 Palestinian deaths occurred in the context of settler attacks.
The Jalud incident also follows an earlier attack on Aida al-Tubasi, who was reportedly assaulted by masked settlers while speaking with American journalists. Local officials said violence connected to the latest raid spread to a nearby village, where a Palestinian woman was assaulted and her home set on fire.
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What happens next in Jalud?
The immediate challenge is whether the al-Tubasi family will be able to return safely to its homes and whether those responsible for the attack will face prosecution. The destruction of the properties and continuing security concerns mean that the court’s order remains difficult to implement.
The confrontation has also placed renewed attention on the responsibilities of Israeli security forces, the protection of Palestinian communities and the consequences of settlement expansion. For residents of Jalud, the issue is not only property damage but whether legal rulings can provide meaningful protection against further attacks.
Key takeaway
The latest West Bank settler violence incident shows the gap between court orders and conditions on the ground. The al-Tubasi family’s attempted return ended with damaged homes, arson and evacuation, while international organisations continue to call for stronger accountability and protection for civilians.
