Israeli Settlers Attack West Bank Village of Qusra

Dozens of masked Israeli settler militants attacked Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra on Saturday, trapping residents inside and marking a significant escalation in a weeks-long siege that has drawn international condemnation. The assault occurred on August 29, just hundreds of yards from three homes that have been under a similar blockade since early August.

Witnesses reported that settlers surrounded a house under construction, throwing stones at the building where seven Palestinians were trapped. The owner of the home, Luay Bayruti, stated that after he called the Israeli military for help, he and six others remained trapped for over an hour as the attack continued. Bayruti displayed a bandaged arm he said was injured by a stone during the incident.

The Israeli military said in a statement that troops and border police were dispatched to the scene to remove "rioters" and protect the residents inside the house. However, accounts from those inside conflicted with the military's description of events. Saddam Oday, a medic who was among those trapped, said the Israeli military fired tear gas into the home and detained the residents, while allowing the...