IDF to investigate events in Qusra
The IDF will examine why it took two days to evacuate the outpost and why forces were sent that did not evacuate it. Additionally, the decision to ask Palestinian families to leave their homes will be reviewed.
Following questions regarding the conduct of the forces, the IDF will launch an investigation into the events in Qusra, as we first reported this Friday morning. The findings of the investigation will be presented to Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir.
As part of the investigation, the army will examine why it took 48 hours to evacuate the outpost, and after the extremists returned, another 24 hours until the subsequent evacuation. In addition, the conduct of the forces on the ground who were sent to the outpost and did not evacuate it will be examined. Furthermore, the evacuation of the Palestinian families in the village, who were asked to leave their homes and were later allowed to return, will be reviewed.
At the beginning of the week, extremists established an illegal outpost inside the Palestinian village in Samaria. Only the day before yesterday, the IDF arrived at the scene and began the evacuation, with the Commander of the Central Command present at the site. However, shortly thereafter, the outpost was re-established. During the evacuation and at the time of the security forces' arrival, extremist activists were documented blocking access to the village with rocks. According to a series of reports and documentation, IDF soldiers prayed alongside the extremist rioters. Palestinian families wrote on social media that they were in distress and that resources at the location were running out.
The IDF's conduct drew harsh international criticism. United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee provided an unusual response to the incident:
"The IDF and the Israel Police arrived at our request to the scene to evacuate the Israeli terrorists who carried out these acts. The actions of those who harmed this family's home are criminal. The acts committed by those people — a shocking act of terror intended to intimidate and harass this family — are horrific. There is no justification for such bullying behavior."
