2026 attack on Khirbet Humsa
On 13 March 2026, a group of Israeli settlers allegedly attacked the village of Khirbet Humsa in the West Bank, Palestine. According to residents, the settlers stole sheep and other goods. One settler was accused of committing sexual assault during the attack.
Attack
In 13 March 2026, a group of 20-40 Israeli settlers allegedly attacked the Palestinian village of Khirbet Humsa.[1][2][3] The residents and two human rights activists reported being beaten and having their belongings stolen.[1] One member of the attacking group was accused of sexually assaulting a villager by placing a zip-tie around his penis and beating him.[4][5] The entire attack took 45 minutes.[6] According to the police, 4 of the residents needed medical treatment afterwards.[3]
In April 2026, the West Bank Protection Consortium released a report stating that Israelis were committing sexual and gender based violence against Palestinians in the West Bank to pressure them to leave their land.[7][6]
One of the alleged assilaints, Tal Yinon Dardik, was arrested four months later, in July. Following his detention, he participated in a hunger strike and several right-wing politicians advocated for him to be freed. Defense Minister Israel Katz met with Dardik.[8][9][10] Katz announced that IDF chief Avi Bluth would lose his position for detaining Dardik[11] but later rescinded his announcement.[12] In August 2026, Dardik was released from house arrest, and barred from the West Bank except for the community of Modiin Illit.[13][14]
References
- 1 2 Halbfinger, David M.; AbdulKarim, Fatima (2026-03-18). "Palestinian Man Recounts Brutal Sexual Assault by Israeli Settlers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- ↑ "Israeli settler who stripped Palestinian naked and zip-tied his genitals released from house arrest". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- 1 2 Kimon, Elisha Ben; Bloemhof, Idan (2026-07-25). "Defense Minister Katz visits jailed settler accused of tying Palestinian by genitals". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- ↑ Diamond, Jeremy; Saifi, Zeena (2026-03-18). "Palestinian man in the West Bank says he was sexually assaulted by Israeli settlers | CNN". CNN. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
- ↑ Halbfinger, David M.; AbdulKarim, Fatima (2026-03-18). "Palestinian Man Recounts Brutal Sexual Assault by Israeli Settlers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
- 1 2 Shalash, Fayha. "Sexual violence in the West Bank emerges as tool to intimidate Palestinians". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- ↑ Graham-Harrison, Emma (2026-04-21). "Israeli soldiers using sexual assault to force Palestinians out of West Bank, report says". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- ↑ Horovitz, Michael (2026-07-25). "Katz said to meet suspect detained over brutal settler attack on West Bank village". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
- ↑ Kimon, Elisha Ben; Bloemhof, Idan (2026-07-25). "Defense Minister Katz visits jailed settler accused of tying Palestinian by genitals". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
- ↑ "Mother-in-law's home ruled unsuitable for settler house arrest | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2026-08-09. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
- ↑ https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/haaretz-today/2026-08-10/ty-article/.highlight/israelis-are-finally-troubled-by-settler-violence-are-they-too-late/0000019f-eca7-d101-a5bf-efb7a60b0000
- ↑ https://www.newarab.com/news/israels-katz-walks-back-call-dismiss-west-bank-army-chief
- ↑ "IDF: Settler accused of attack to be freed from house arrest, barred from West Bank". The Times of Israel. 2026-08-10. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
- ↑ "Settler Tal Yinon Dardik released from house arrest, barred from West Bank | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2026-08-10. Retrieved 2026-08-10.