Israel's impunity has been virtually unaffected by collective concern

The village of Qusra, situated near Nablus in the Occupied West Bank, has a documented history dating back to Ottoman tax records in 1596. Its existence and the lives of its residents have been recorded throughout time. However, Qusra's story has become particularly noteworthy amid the turmoil of Israeli actions against Palestinians, which have intensified in 2026.

This month, Israeli settlers surrounded three houses in Qusra, informing the families that they must vacate the premises due to the settlers' intentions to claim the land. The settlers halted the supply of water and electricity to the houses and obstructed the roads. These actions are not uncommon in the West Bank and have often been particularly egregious.

Last month, settlers torched the village's recently built mosque following a clash in another village where four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers perished. A group of settlers had entered a restricted area of the West Bank for an unauthorized hiking trip, according to the Israeli military. The siege of these three houses and their 15 inhabitants, despite the UN allowing supplies to reach them, has garnered international attention, especially in the United States, due to one of the houses being owned by a Palestinian-American, Loai Ridi.

However, the stark contrast between the situation in Gaza and Qusra is evident. In Gaza, where international media access has been denied since October 7, 2023, the death toll has surpassed 70,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and the living conditions of the remaining 2 million people continue to deteriorate. The absence of independent media coverage in Gaza leaves the events highly contested, but the Israeli restriction prevents the media from verifying and distinguishing false claims and information.

Israeli responses to specific incidents often downplay the severity of the events, attributing them to bureaucratic failures. When questioned about individual incidents, Israeli statements rarely lead to accountability, even when fault is acknowledged. Recently, Australia condemned an internal IDF report that revealed serious shortcomings in the process leading to the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six colleagues in April 2024.

The IDF stated that the commanders' decisions did not suggest reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct. However, the humanitarian aid group, World Central Kitchen, contended that the IDF was fully aware that the team in Gaza was unarmed and posed no threat. The military investigation, criticized for muddying the facts and shifting blame, was not conducted with transparency.

The Israeli Ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, expressed sorrow for the families' loss but refused to apologize, citing legal implications. Canada, the UK, and Australia jointly released a statement condemning the IDF's decision not to pursue criminal investigations into the strike, highlighting the ongoing lack of accountability in Gaza.

They emphasized the need for Israel to comply with international humanitarian law and ensure the safety of humanitarian staff. The Israeli foreign ministry defended its decision, stating that it was made by the independent military prosecution authorities based on professional and legal considerations. The credibility of the IDF's account was further undermined by the recent investigation into the killing of a five-year-old girl, Hind Rajab, and two paramedics in January 2024, and the killing of 15 Palestinian paramedics in March 2025.