Israeli Settlers Stop Soldiers From Returning Palestinians to Their Home

More than 100 Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians and soldiers in the West Bank overnight when the Israeli military tried to return a Palestinian family to their home after they were forced out, with the authorities accused of not doing enough to confront a rise in settler violence. The Israeli government, military and police have been condemned for failing to protect Palestinians in the occupied territory after a surge of settler attacks resulted in few arrests and stoked international criticism. The settlers are Jewish Israelis who live in areas that Israel occupied in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Most of the international community considers the settlements to be illegal. In the latest outburst of violence that began late on Monday, the settlers set fire to Palestinian homes and wounded three Israeli border police officers when the soldiers tried to return the family, the Toubassis, to their home in the village of Jalud, the military said in a statement. Three people were arrested, according to the Israeli police, who said in a statement that they had opened an investigation. Image Mr. Toubassi’s home that he says was damaged by settlers after the family tried to return. Credit... Ammar Awad/Reuters The family were forced to leave their home in July after repeated settler attacks on the property. In August, the Israeli military said in a statement that it had created a closed zone in the area to prevent nonresidents from entering. But Palestinians documented Israeli soldiers standing by as settlers went in and out of the Toubassi house or even playing ball with them in the yard . The Supreme Court this month ordered the military to ensure the safe return of the Toubassi family after settlers took over their home. Under international law, the military is responsible for maintaining law and order and protecting Palestinians living in the West Bank because Israel is an occupying power, a principle that is recognized by Israeli courts. The military said that the soldiers filmed playing with the settlers had been removed from combat duty, according to the Supreme Court decision. We are having trouble retrieving the article content. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in . Want all of The Times? Subscribe .