US Pressures Netanyahu to Condemn West Bank Settler Violence

The United States is urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn militant settlers accused of carrying out attacks against Palestinian families in Qusra, a village in the occupied West Bank. U.S. and Israeli officials said Washington wants a clear response as violence and displacement continue to affect Palestinian communities.

Residents on the outskirts of Qusra say they have endured months of attacks, with some families recently facing what they describe as an intensified campaign by settlers seeking to expand their control over land. Human rights groups warn that growing settler violence is further reducing territory Palestinians hope could one day form part of an independent state.

Local resident Marmar Ouda said he has installed metal fences and window bars to protect his family. He also described the killing of his nephew and the injury of his brother during an earlier shooting involving a settler. Ouda said attacks have continued, including stone-throwing at his home, despite complaints filed with Israeli authorities.

Another resident, Ibrahim Hassan, said he and his family were forced to flee their home after settlers and men wearing Israeli army uniforms allegedly entered the property, smashed windows, and assaulted him in front of his wife and children. The family now rents a home elsewhere.

The Israeli military has said troops were deployed in Qusra to protect residents and maintain security, while Israeli police and military officials had not immediately responded to requests for comment on several allegations.

Israeli rights groups have criticized the government’s approach to settlement expansion and accused authorities of allowing settlers to act with little accountability. Rabbis for Human Rights researcher Ezra Brownstein said settlers were aggressively taking control of Palestinian homes and land.

According to United Nations data, more than 2,200 Palestinians had been displaced in 2026 by the end of June due to settler violence and other access restrictions. The situation in Qusra highlights growing international concern over West Bank settler violence, Palestinian displacement, and the escalating struggle over land in the occupied territory.