Dozens of masked Israeli settler militants attacked homes surrounding the occupied West Bank village of Qusra on Saturday, the first major attack since a siege by settlers in the area earlier this month drew an international outcry.
The settlers surrounded a Palestinian home, throwing stones while seven Palestinians were trapped inside, according to witnesses who spoke to Reuters.
Saddam Oday, one of those trapped, said the Israeli military fired tear gas into the home and detained the residents inside while letting him go. He said the Israeli military had not detained any of the settlers and had allowed them to leave.
The owner of the house, Luay Bayrudi, said when the military arrived they handcuffed, blindfolded and beat those inside, before later releasing them.
The Israeli military said in a statement that troops and border police forces had arrived on the scene to remove “rioters”, and protect the residents inside the house.
The military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on why they had reportedly fired tear gas at the house and detained and beaten the residents.
