The IDF on Tuesday dismissed a reservist commander who, along with his troops, was filmed praying with settlers besieging the Palestinian village of Qusra, rather than removing them from their illegal outpost.
The August 10 footage sparked an outcry and additional accusations that Israeli authorities were willfully ignoring settler violence.
The outpost where the troops were filmed praying with the Jewish extremists was later removed, but settlers continued to roam the area freely, despite a closed military zone order issued by the IDF.
Residents of Qusra say the siege that settlers began on August 9 is still effectively in place, as families in several homes on the outskirts of the village are unable to leave without coordinating with the army. They are also afraid to do so as settlers remain in the area, and they are convinced that the Israeli extremists will take over their homes, as they have after carrying out similar sieges in nearby towns.
On Saturday, dozens of settlers attacked Qusra, temporarily taking over a home while a Palestinian family was inside.
