According to the Israeli Times, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned on August 29 the ‘violent criminal acts’ committed by Israeli settlers in the villages of Gush Landa and Jalud in West Bank Palestine. This was his first public statement regarding violent incidents in the region, and Israeli media described it as ‘finally breaking the silence’.
Netanyahu said that the individuals involved were merely "a few violent criminals" who "created great injustice against the law-abiding community, hindered the operations of the Israel Defense Forces, and damaged Israel's international image."
Netanyahu said: "Security forces took rapid action, seized three vehicles, and managed to calm the situation within a short time."
He did not specify whether an arrest was carried out.
Before his statement was made, the town of Gusla experienced turmoil for over two weeks. Settlers surrounded several homes in the area, one of which belonged to a Palestinian-American.
Earlier on August 29th, the Israeli military and police stated that Israeli mobsters entered Gush Landa, leading to intense clashes. Dozens of mobsters locked themselves in a Palestinian home, where there were also other residents present. Security forces separated the conflicting parties and seized the vehicles used by the mobsters.
The Associated Press witnessed ambulances transporting injured Palestinians from the scene. Gusla Town Mayor Abdul-Azim Wadi told the Associated Press that two people were injured by tear gas inhalation, and another two were injured when they were attacked with stones by settlers. He also said that the house where the siege took place has now been deblocked.
The Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry stated in a statement: “The conduct of these violent extremist elements is an embarrassment and contradicts the values of the State of Israel."
Netanyahu once claimed in December 2025 that there were only about 70 young settlers who committed violence, and these individuals were not locals from the West Bank. However, in July, he increased this number to 150 “juvenile troublemakers”, stating that these people had been “brought to the West Bank region”.
However, local activists said that the attackers were Israelis who had established illegal outposts in various areas of the West Bank. The number of such outposts has reached a record high over the past three years. The Netanyahu government has provided substantial funding and support to these privately built settlements. Critics argue that these illegal settlements are used as tools to deprive Palestinians of their land.
Israel is criticized for rarely carrying out arrests related to violent incidents involving settlers, and there are even fewer cases where charges are brought and convictions are imposed.
According to the Associated Press, Netanyahu’s government represents the most nationalist and religiously inclined government in Israeli history. During its tenure, the size of settlements on the West Bank continued to expand. The majority of countries in the international community consider these settlements illegal, and Israel’s support from the United States is also gradually diminishing.
According to local health authorities, Israel launched air strikes and artillery fire on the central part of the Gaza Strip on the 29th, resulting in the death of four Palestinians and several others being injured.
According to reports from Shefa Hospital, in Gaza City, Israel carried out an air strike against a motorcycle, resulting in the death of two Palestinians and the injury of one. The Israeli military stated that the target of the attack was a “military armed individual,” but did not provide further details.
The fragile cease-fire agreement in Gaza has continued since October last year. Although the heavy fighting in Gaza have subsided, data from the Gaza Ministry of Health shows that since the cease-fire began, Israeli military actions have caused at least 1,313 Palestinians to die.
