Jeffries Urges Trump Administration to Shield West Bank Palestinians from Settler Violence

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called on the Trump administration to compel Israel to protect Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, citing “law-breaking settlers” who have been attacking homes and restricting movement. “The ongoing siege of Palestinian homes in the West Bank by violent, lawbreaking settlers is unacceptable. Enough,” — Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries

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Violent incidents by Israeli settlers have escalated in recent weeks, with reports of road blockades, tent encampments in front yards, and cuts to electricity and water in villages such as Qusra near Nablus. The Israeli Defense Forces (Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF)) later entered Qusra in a operation to dismantle two illegal outposts, responding to a week-long siege by settlers. Since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, overall violence in the West Bank has risen, and the Israeli government has expanded settlements markedly since 2022, according to Al Jazeera.

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• U.S. State Department: A spokesperson reiterated that the department remains aligned with the Trump administration’s peace goals and is in regular contact with regional partners to improve West Bank stability and security.

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• U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee: Condemned the settler attacks on Qusra, labeling the perpetrators “Israeli terrorists.”

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• Israeli Defense Forces: Reported that forces entered Qusra to dismantle illegal outposts after settlers closed off roads and imposed a siege on three homes.

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• Jeffries is among 100 Democrats who voted against a recent aid package for Israel.

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• The West Bank has experienced a “barrage of violent attacks” from settlers in the weeks following the Hamas attack, contributing to a broader surge in regional violence over the past three years.

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The Trump administration has not yet announced specific diplomatic steps, but Jeffries’ statement signals heightened congressional pressure for the United States to intervene more directly in protecting Palestinian civilians and curbing settler aggression in the West Bank.

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