Palestinian family Tubasi faced blocked roads, burning tires, and vandalized homes in Jalud on the West Bank overnight, after a mob of more than one hundred Israeli settlers mobilized via WhatsApp groups to prevent their court-ordered return home, according to the Israel Defense Forces and local reporting.
WhatsApp Mobilization Blocks Court-Ordered Return in Jalud
Extremist settlers used WhatsApp messaging groups to coordinate their response after learning that the Tubasi family planned to return to Jalud, near Nablus, according to reporting by The Times of Israel. The family had been driven out of the village in July following sustained intimidation and attacks. Israel’s High Court of Justice subsequently ruled that the family must be allowed to return safely, while sharply criticizing authorities for failing to curb settler violence.
When the family arrived under military escort, rioters blocked roads, set fire to car tires, and threw stones at soldiers and border police. According to the army, three border police officers sustained light injuries, and a military vehicle suffered damage. Soldiers dispersed the crowds and arrested three boys aged 15, 17, and 18, handing them over to the police.
Inside the Siege on Tubasi Family Homes
Intelligence and police forces were reportedly unaware of the return operation in advance, according to the newspaper Haaretz. With insufficient protection assigned to the limited number of soldiers accompanying the family, rioters reached the village within ten minutes, overwhelming the initial security presence before army reinforcements arrived.
A family member told Haaretz that they were instructed to stay indoors, but the escorting personnel could not hold back the attackers. Rioters smashed through doors and windows, forcing the family to flee to the roof. Troops eventually evacuated the family in an armored vehicle. Shortly afterward, family members watched smoke pour from their burning houses. Al Jazeera reported via eyewitnesses that both houses and personal belongings belonging to Palestinian residents of Jalud were torched, causing extensive damage and panic among villagers.
Spreading Violence Across the West Bank
The overnight clashes in Jalud were part of a broader wave of violence affecting multiple villages on the West Bank. In Qayrut, attackers set vehicles on fire, and an elderly woman was reportedly assaulted after intruders broke into her house. In al-Mughayyir, three homes were invaded, personal property was smashed, and one house was set ablaze.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement condemning the violence and the attacks on soldiers, asserting that the rioters do not represent the settler population in Judea and Samaria—using the term for the occupied West Bank to emphasize his view that the land belongs to the Jewish people. This incident follows a pattern documented in August, when settlers surrounded the homes of two other Palestinian families for days, trapping 15 people, including two children, while pelting their properties with stones.
United Nations data indicates that violent attacks by settlers against Palestinian residents average six per day this year, representing a significant escalation on the West Bank. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that groups of settlers are frequently encouraged or protected by Israeli military forces during incidents involving shootings, home takeovers, and arson.
Common Questions About the West Bank Settler Unrest
Why were the Tubasi family returning to Jalud?
The family returned under a ruling by Israel’s High Court of Justice, which mandated that they must be allowed back home safely after being driven out in July by ongoing settler intimidation and attacks.
How did the rioters learn about the return?
Extremist settlers coordinated the mobilization through WhatsApp messaging groups after details of the military-escorted return leaked, according to The Times of Israel.
What actions did the military take during the clashes?
The army deployed reinforcements, dispersed the crowds, and arrested three teenage boys aged 15, 17, and 18, who were then transferred to police custody.
Were there any injuries reported during the incident?
Three border police officers sustained light injuries, and a military vehicle was damaged. Palestinian residents suffered heavy property damage as houses and belongings were set on fire.
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