Israel to transfer West Bank settlement security to civil police

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has announced a plan to transfer security authority over Israeli settlements and settlers in the occupied West Bank from the military to the civil police. The military has been given two weeks to draft a plan for this transition, which would limit the army's role in the territory to managing Palestinians and controlling borders.

This policy shift follows a period of intense tension in the village of Qusra, south of Nablus. For several weeks, Palestinian families, including the Hassan and Abu Rida families, have been besieged by Israeli settlers. Reports indicate that settlers have cut off access to water and electricity and engaged in intimidation and physical aggression against the residents. While the Israeli military briefly declared the area a closed military zone and evacuated settler tents, the status was restored shortly after, leading to allegations of collusion between the military and settlers.