Two family homes burned during thwarted West Bank return

An attempt to return members of the Palestinian Tubasi family to their homes in Jalud, south of Nablus, was halted by violence overnight on Monday. The Israeli military said more than 100 Israeli rioters blocked roads, burned tyres and threw stones at security forces. Three Border Police personnel suffered minor injuries, it said. [1]

The military said rioters also set fire to Palestinian buildings, vehicles and other property. Al-Ghad reported fires at two family homes and said the family had entered a home before troops made them leave again during the attack. The military said it could not complete the return. [1] [5]

Israel’s High Court of Justice had directed authorities on 6 September to coordinate the petitioners’ return within 14 days, secure it and allow supplies needed to repair their homes and utilities. The court recorded that two petitioners had left their homes on 22 July. It criticised the authorities’ response to their displacement, while recording the state’s account of enforcement operations and increased patrols. [2] [7]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence, while Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and President Isaac Herzog also denounced the rioting. [3] [4]

An investigation is under way. The military said two suspects had been arrested and handed to police; Ynet reported three arrests. The family’s return had not been completed when the military issued its morning update. [1] [4]

Update

The BBC reports that settlers set fire to both of the al-Tubasi family’s homes and their car in Jalud, south of Nablus, as Israeli forces drove the family away on Monday night. The family had been trying to return under an Israeli Supreme Court order.