Palestinian Homeowner Arrested After Settlers Allegedly Attack His Under-Construction House
A Palestinian man, Louay Birouti, claims he and six others were arrested, beaten, and bound by Israeli forces after Israeli settlers allegedly attacked his under-construction home in the West Bank village of Qusra. Birouti arrived at his property on Saturday to install doors and windows, but says settlers surrounded him and his companions, throwing stones at the house. He contacted Israeli police for assistance, but alleges that upon the arrival of security forces, he and his companions were detained, cuffed, and assaulted.
Birouti stated that since January, he has faced difficulties accessing his home due to ongoing tensions and settler presence in the area. On Saturday, he reported that five to six settlers appeared shortly after his arrival, with their numbers increasing, trapping him and his companions inside the house while settlers hurled stones. After calling the police, he claims that even after security forces arrived, the situation escalated, with gas deployed inside the house and his group forced onto the roof, where they continued to be targeted with stones until the army arrested them.
He further alleges that they were held in a military vehicle for two to three hours before being taken to Duma, where they were allegedly left bound and blindfolded. Birouti recounted that an officer warned him not to return to his home, threatening to destroy it if he did. He also claimed that the army declared the area a closed military zone, yet settlers continued to move freely within it, while Palestinian access remained restricted.
Another resident, Marmer Odeh, described a similar reality, noting that tensions have persisted for about eight months since a new outpost was established. He stated that even after the army declared the area a closed military zone, it only applied to Palestinians, while settlers moved freely. The Israeli military (IDF) responded that during their operation in Qusra, after Israeli rioters fled, forces bound several Palestinians identified as stone-throwers, including one who resisted arrest. The IDF stated that no claims of violence are known to them and that their forces initially worked to remove rioters from the house to protect the Palestinian residents.
The IDF also reported confiscating vehicles suspected of being used by Jewish rioters to reach Qusra and Jalud, initiating an investigation. Permanent IDF and Border Police forces will be stationed in the Qusra and Jalud area until further notice. Settlers, however, claim the incident began when Israelis on a tour were attacked by Palestinians from Qusra, leading to stone-throwing from both sides. Settler groups have criticized the media and the IDF spokesperson for what they perceive as a one-sided portrayal of the events, particularly regarding the status of the building.
