Kusra

"Here's an American citizen being attacked in the West Bank by an American tax-funded army, American weapons used to attack Palestinian Americans in the West Bank," one resident told Reuters.

The IDF told Army Radio that commanders had explained "the seriousness of the act" to the soldiers, and "lessons were drawn from the matter."

The Kusra siege has drawn rare US criticism and intensified debate over Israel’s failure to restrain violent factions as the government considers transferring civilian law enforcement from the IDF.

The outpost, known as Givat Or Yehuda, was reportedly the site of a violent incident three months earlier, which Army Radio cited as the reason for Monday's evacuation.

Palestinian residents who remain in the area told KAN News that they still feel threatened by Jewish extremists in the area.

The Press and Communications Council demanded responses from the IDF after a Channel 14 reporter entered the West Bank village of Kusra, while other reporters were denied access.

Leiter connected his criticism of the violence to the Jewish commandment of settling the Land of Israel, arguing that the principle also carries a responsibility to uphold justice.

“This is exactly what apartheid looks like. This is exactly what occupation looks like. We will continue to fight against the terror of the occupation and for a just peace," Cassif said.

According to N12, the IDF will also look into the manner in which the Palestinian families of the town were evacuated on Thursday after being instructed to leave.

According to Katz, the proposed plan would shift responsibility for civilian law enforcement and public order involving the Israeli population in the West Bank from the IDF to the police.