Violence flared in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, as Israeli settlers opened fire on Palestinian homes in the town of Qusra, located south of Nablus. Local sources, citing the Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA), reported that the attackers originated from a newly established settlement outpost in the Ras al-Ain area.
Details of the Attack The settlers reportedly discharged live ammunition toward residential buildings, causing panic among local families. While no physical injuries were reported directly from the gunfire, the incident triggered a rapid escalation. The Israeli military intervened shortly after the shooting began, leading to violent confrontations between local Palestinian residents and soldiers in the area.
Broader Military Crackdown The attack in Qusra was not an isolated incident of tension on Tuesday. In the northern West Bank, Israeli forces conducted raids in the Jenin governorate. In the town of Silat al-Harithiya, troops arrested Abdul Hadi Shadi al-Omari, a Palestinian man with a disability.
Simultaneously, military forces stormed the town of Yamun, west of Jenin, where they reportedly raided and searched several homes, causing significant property damage. No arrests were reported in the Yamun operation, though the raids added to the growing sense of instability across the territory.
Rising Settlement Violence Observers note that the establishment of new settlement outposts, like the one in Ras al-Ain, often serves as a flashpoint for increased friction. Human rights organizations have frequently warned about the rising frequency of settler-led violence against Palestinian agrarian communities, often occurring under the gaze or intervention of the Israeli military.
As of Tuesday evening, the situation in Qusra remains volatile, with local community leaders calling for international protection against what they describe as systematic harassment by settler groups.
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