More than 100 Israeli settlers clashed with Israeli soldiers and Palestinians in the West Bank late Monday as the military attempted to return the Toubassi family to their home in the village of Jalud after they had been forcibly displaced. The incident marked a continuation of escalating settler violence in the occupied territory, which has drawn widespread criticism domestically and internationally amid accusations that Israeli authorities have inadequately protected Palestinian residents.
The Toubassi family had been driven from their home in July following repeated attacks by settlers, who are Jewish Israelis living in settlements established after Israel’s 1967 occupation of the West Bank—a practice deemed illegal by most of the international community. In response to the violence, the Israeli military had established a closed zone around the area in August, restricting access to non-residents.
Despite these measures, Palestinians reported that soldiers were observed allowing settlers to enter and exit the Toubassi property and even interacting with them. Following a directive from the Israeli Supreme Court this month ordering the military to secure the family’s return, soldiers implicated in fraternizing with settlers were reportedly removed from combat duties.
After the family briefly reoccupied their home on Monday night, tensions quickly escalated. According to the military, a group of settlers set fire to a vehicle on the property and threw stones at the house, injuring three Israeli border police officers in the ensuing violence. Security forces intervened as more than 100 “rioters” arrived, with the military describing the situation as involving “severe violence” that included stone-throwing, road blockades, and tire fires. Three individuals were arrested and are under investigation by Israeli police.
The military evacuated the Toubassi family approximately an hour after their return, citing concerns for their safety amid the growing unrest. Mahmoud Toubassi, a family member, said the army’s presence was crucial to their ability to leave safely, expressing heartbreak over the destruction caused by the fire.
This latest episode fits into a broader pattern of rising settler aggression in the West Bank, which has intensified since the outbreak of conflict in Gaza following the Hamas-led assault on Israel in October 2023. United Nations data indicates that at least 23 Palestinians have died in settler-related clashes so far this year.
International pressure on Israel has increased, with countries including Britain, Canada, and France imposing bans on trade with West Bank settlements. Meanwhile, settler tactics such as besieging and forcing Palestinian families from their homes have been reported not only in Jalud but in nearby villages as well.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attacks on the Toubassi family, describing those responsible as a “handful of rioters” unrepresentative of settlers generally. However, critics, including former Israeli security officials and human rights organizations, contend that the problem is more widespread. Netanyahu’s main political rival, Gadi Eisenkot, labeled the overnight attack a “campaign of terror and violence.” Earlier this month, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned those who assaulted Palestinians, calling them “terrorists.”
As the situation remains volatile, the Toubassis and other Palestinian families in the West Bank continue to face insecurity and displacement amid ongoing settler violence and contested military actions.