IDF to probe soldiers' conduct in Kusra, investigate time taken to evacuate extremists - report

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will conduct a thorough investigation into the recent events in the West Bank village of Kusra, with findings to be presented to Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. The probe aims to clarify the timeline and actions taken during the handling of an illegal settler outpost.

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The events in Kusra are serious and are not our way.

Key aspects of the investigation will include the significant delay in evacuating the outpost, which reportedly took soldiers 48 hours to address initially. Furthermore, the IDF will examine why it required an additional day to remove the outpost after extremist settlers returned to the site. The conduct of troops who were allegedly present but did not carry out their duty to evacuate the outpost will also be scrutinized.

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There is no place for privately deciding to establish a hilltop outpost in the yard of a house, even when it is an illegal house or there is an attempt to take control of the area.

Additionally, the investigation will look into the manner in which Palestinian families from Kusra were evacuated on Thursday, following instructions to leave their homes. The chaos in Kusra began earlier in the week when dozens of settler extremists clashed with security forces after one outpost was evacuated. Settler leaders have publicly denounced the violence, warning it harms the settlement movement and Israel, stating there is no justification for violence against uninvolved Palestinians or security forces.

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There is absolutely no justification for violence against uninvolved people or against the security forces.