IDF condemns ‘reprehensible’ settler outposts in Palestinian villages, doesn’t say why it hasn’t dismantled them

The Israeli military says it condemns the “illegal, reprehensible and unacceptable” establishment of settler outposts inside Palestinian villages in the West Bank in recent days, but does not say why it hasn’t yet dismantled them or why, in a recent example, troops prayed with civilians rather than removing them from the area.

On the outskirts of Qusra, south of Nablus, a Palestinian family has been prevented from entering or leaving since Sunday due to the settlers outside. Soldiers were filmed on Sunday arriving at the structure erected by the settlers and praying with them.

This evening, a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance arrived, evacuated a girl whose family wanted her to receive medical treatment, and brought some food to the two besieged families there.

Last month, settlers surrounded a home in the nearby village of Jalud for more than two weeks, after which the family living there fled, and settlers took over the property. Settlers remain in the Jalud home to this day, and its owners have been unable to return.

“In recent weeks, several reports have been received of Israeli civilians entering and taking control of Palestinian homes and land in the areas of Qusra and Jalud. This is illegal, reprehensible and unacceptable activity that harms the residents of the areas and disrupts their daily lives,” the IDF says in a statement.

The military says that following these incidents, “and in light of reports of disturbances, a closed military zone order was issued in the area for anyone who is not a resident of the area.”

The army says that it “strongly condemns incidents of this kind” and that “should it be determined that IDF reservists or active-duty soldiers are involved in such incidents, they will face disciplinary action.”

Regarding an incident in Qusra yesterday, where soldiers prevented a Palestinian ambulance carrying a foreign journalist from approaching the family’s home, the army says that the ambulance entering the closed military zone had been coordinated, but “upon the ambulance’s arrival at the checkpoint, IDF soldiers identified Israeli civilians inside who attempted to enter the area subject to the closed military zone order under the ambulance’s cover.”

“As a result, the IDF soldiers operating at the checkpoint conducted an inspection of the ambulance. Subsequently, the ambulance was inspected by the Israel Police,” the military says.

Since a deadly clash in the village of Tell last month, Israeli settlers have established 13 illegal outposts in the area. Two were demolished overnight by Israeli authorities.

A military source says the demolitions of the illegal structures are intended “to curb this serious phenomenon, to protect residents and maintain order.”

However, the IDF does not explain why the outposts have yet to be demolished.