Israeli Settlers Attack Palestinian Homes, Drawing Rare Netanyahu Rebuke

Masked Israeli settlers launched a major attack on Palestinian homes in the West Bank village of Qusra on Saturday, marking their first large-scale assault since imposing a siege on the area earlier this month. The raid drew an unusual public criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who rarely condemns settler actions. The attack targeted residential properties in Qusra, a village that has been under a settler-imposed blockade since early November. The identity of the attackers was confirmed by local officials, who described the assailants as masked and armed. Netanyahu’s rebuke signals a potential shift in the government’s stance, though he did not specify what actions, if any, would be taken against the perpetrators. The incident raises fresh concerns over escalating violence in the occupied West Bank, where settler attacks have surged in recent months. No injuries were immediately reported, but property damage was extensive.