Israel sends troops to West Bank homes besieged by settlers

Israeli settlers have been conducting a campaign of violence and intimidation against the Palestinian village of Qusra in the occupied West Bank. According to France 24, families in Qusra have had their electricity and water supplies cut off, and residents say this is an attempt to force them from their homes. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have intervened and condemned the violence, but Palestinians claim that settlers have long been allowed to carry out such attacks with impunity.

The situation has drawn condemnation from Washington, with the US sharply criticizing the settlers' actions.

The Jerusalem Post reports that Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the IDF to prepare a plan to transfer civilian enforcement authority in the West Bank to the Israel Police. Katz stated that the IDF's role is to focus on defending against Palestinian terrorism and threats, while the police would take over responsibility for enforcing civilian matters and maintaining law and order among the Israeli population.

However, MK Gilad Kariv criticized the move, saying it would not be implemented and would send a message to IDF troops not to act against Jewish terrorism.

Brief written by urgent.news from France 24, Jerusalem Post — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.