Israeli Army Escorts Palestinian Family Home—Then Settlers Set Their House on Fire

Israeli forces escorted a Palestinian family back towards their homes in the West Bank village of Jalud after a court order requiring authorities to facilitate their return, only for more than 100 Israeli settlers to confront the operation, set property on fire, and clash with security forces.

The Tubasi family had left their homes in July following months of reported harassment and attacks by settlers. On 6 September, Israel's High Court of Justice ordered authorities to arrange the return of three Palestinian petitioners and their families and provide security during the process.

The attempted return on 29 September instead became another confrontation. The Israeli military said settlers blocked roads, threw stones at security personnel, and set Palestinian property and vehicles on fire. Three Border Police officers were injured, while two suspects were detained, according to the military.

Court-Ordered Return Was Put on a Legal Timetable

The significance of the operation was not simply that a displaced family was attempting to go home. It followed a judicial order requiring the state to take practical steps to make the return possible. Reporting on the ruling said the case involved three Palestinian residents of Jalud whose families had been driven from homes after prolonged incidents including road blockages, property damage, and other harassment.

The court ordered the state to facilitate their return and protect them from further harm. That placed the authorities under a defined legal obligation rather than leaving the timing of the return solely to local security arrangements.

The Return Operation Became a Clash With Israeli Security Forces

When the operation began, Israeli forces were not simply escorting civilians through an ordinary security checkpoint. They were also dealing with a large group of settlers attempting to prevent the return.

The IDF said more than 100 Israeli rioters gathered in Jalud, blocked roads, and attacked security personnel. Aside from three Border Police officers being injured, Palestinian buildings and vehicles were damaged or set on fire.

Reuters reported that troops ultimately evacuated the family as the violence intensified, meaning the planned return could not be completed. The military said its forces had worked to protect the family and local residents during the confrontation.

Homes Became the Centre of the Dispute

The confrontation also transformed the family's property into the physical centre of the dispute. Wael Tubasi described extensive damage inside the homes, including destroyed doors, windows, bathrooms, stairs, and other parts of the buildings. Reuters journalists who visited the area reported seeing blackened walls and other signs of fire damage.

The destruction matters beyond the immediate incident because the court-backed return was intended to restore access to homes that the families had already been unable to use for weeks. The latest violence therefore left authorities facing two separate tasks: investigating the attack and determining how the court-ordered return can actually be carried out.

Netanyahu Called for Prosecution as Investigation Began

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence and called for those responsible to face prosecution. The Israeli military said an investigation had begun and that two suspects had been detained.

The incident has also prompted renewed scrutiny of how Israeli authorities respond when settler violence intersects with disputes over Palestinian property and court orders. Rights groups and other Israeli commentators have criticised enforcement in previous cases, while Israeli authorities have said they are taking action against violent rioters.

For the Tubasi family, however, the immediate issue remains practical: despite a court order intended to facilitate their return, the security operation ended without completing it.