A violent settler raid on the Palestinian village of Jalud in the northern West Bank has sparked rare condemnation from Israeli government officials. The assault, which occurred early on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, involved more than 100 Israeli settlers who stormed the village as the military attempted to escort a Palestinian family back to their home after they had been displaced by settler attacks two months prior.
The Israeli military reported that settlers blocked roads, set tires on fire, and threw rocks at security forces, while also setting fire to Palestinian buildings and vehicles in the village. As a result of the clashes, three Israel Border Police officers were lightly injured, and a security forces vehicle was damaged. One person was arrested, and two minors were taken in for questioning.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the attack, attributing it to a "small group of rioters" and stating that their actions caused harm to the community and interfered with the mission of Israeli forces. President Isaac Herzog also condemned the attack as a "moral stain, an assault on the rule of law and our most fundamental values as a people and a nation."
The incident is part of a broader surge in settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. According to the United Nations, settler attacks, including beatings, vandalism, and arson, averaged six per day in the first half of the year. This uptick in violence has occurred amid mounting international criticism of Israel's settlement expansion and its occupation of the West Bank since 1967.
The attack on Jalud was not an isolated incident, as another raid occurred in the Palestinian village of al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah, on the same day. Residents reported that dozens of settlers from hilltop outposts raided the village, resulting in at least five burnt-out cars. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and violence in the region.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has seen a significant increase in violence since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023. According to an AFP tally based on data from the Palestinian health ministry, Israeli soldiers or settlers have killed at least 1,111 Palestinians in that period, including both militants and civilians. Israeli figures show at least 49 Israelis, including civilians and security personnel, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations during the same period.
The international community has taken notice of the escalating violence, with several countries imposing sanctions on products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law. France, the UK, and other nations have joined in condemning Israeli settlement expansion, further isolating Israel on the global stage.
Key points
- Israeli settlers' raid on Jalud village injures three security forces members
- Rare government rebuke from Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Herzog
- Incident part of broader surge in settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank
