Story perspectives

Palestinians Urge UN Action After Qusra Siege

8/16/2026

Summary

Qatar Condemns Settlers

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israeli settler attacks in the West Bank as illegal and called for urgent international action.
Palestinian Presidency spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh called the five-day siege of Qusra terrorism and war crimes, blaming Israeli forces.
Abu Rudeineh urged the UN Security Council to end the aggression, hold perpetrators accountable, and endorse a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as capital.

Summary

Katz Shifts Enforcement

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced enforcement powers over civilians in the West Bank will shift from the army to the police.
The Palestinian Authority Health Ministry reported 87 Palestinian deaths by Israeli settlers and soldiers in 2026 and 1,476 settler attacks in the West Bank that year.
More than 700,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved over 100 new settlements.

History

Historical Context

Oslo’s 1993-1995 accords set a five-year interim that transferred internal security to a Palestinian police force while Israel kept external defense, a framework still cited as Israel Katz moves West Bank policing from the army to civilian police. In 2020 the UN recorded roughly 140 settlements housing over 700,000 Israelis, and Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned recent settler attacks.

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Qatar Condemns Settlers

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israeli settler attacks in the West Bank as illegal and called for urgent international action.
Palestinian Presidency spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh called the five-day siege of Qusra terrorism and war crimes, blaming Israeli forces.
Abu Rudeineh urged the UN Security Council to end the aggression, hold perpetrators accountable, and endorse a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as capital.

1 / 3