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The Washington Post: On October 11, a group of masked and armed Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Qusra, resulting in the deadliest settler assault in the West Bank since the Israel-Gaza war began three months prior. This attack was foreshadowed by threatening messages sent to Qusra residents on Facebook on October 9. The Washington Post’s investigation, including a review of exclusive visuals, medical records, and witness accounts, uncovered that 17-year-old Palestinian Obada Saed Abu Srour was fatally shot in the back, likely while fleeing gunfire.
Israeli troops did not intervene during the attack, despite their legal obligation to protect all West Bank residents, including Palestinians. Evidence indicated that soldiers stationed at nearby military posts, within range to hear the gunfire and witness prior settler attacks, only arrived after the violence ended. This inaction persisted despite military orders specifying their duty to prevent such crimes.
The conflict intensified in the region following an October 7 Hamas attack, with over 800 Palestinians displaced and more than 300 killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers from October 7 to January 4. This period marked a significant rise in fatalities, making it the deadliest year since the United Nations began recording such data in 2005.
Residents of Esh Kodesh, a nearby Israeli settlement, declined to comment, redirecting inquiries to their lawyer, who did not respond. On November 7, police arrested a 22-year-old from the Esh Kodesh area on suspicion of murder linked to the attack, but he was released shortly after questioning.
The incident exemplifies the ongoing challenges and tensions in the region, marked by escalated settler violence, inadequate law enforcement response, and the rising toll of civilian casualties.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2024/01/09/israel-settler-violence-qusra-west-bank/
