Netanyahu says ‘handful of rioters’ behind West Bank settler violence

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denounced violent acts carried out by a "handful of rioters" among Israeli settlers in the West Bank villages of Qusra and Jalud. The attacks involved settling masked individuals who violently targeted Palestinian homes, causing grave injustice to the law-abiding Jewish community, interfering with Israeli military operations, and harming Israel's international reputation.

On Saturday, an attack near Nablus in Qusra saw settlers surround a home, trapping seven Palestinians inside before throwing stones, according to witnesses. Israeli soldiers later arrived, handcuffing, blindfolding, and beating the trapped individuals before releasing them, after which tear gas was reportedly fired into the house.

Israeli officials, including Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, have strongly condemned the violence, calling it a violation of law and values. The attacks come amid ongoing settler violence in the region, with rights groups arguing that such incidents are increasing alongside settlement expansion.