West Bank quarry owner seeks Trump’s intervention after settler raid

A Palestinian owner of a quarry in the West Bank has appealed directly to former U.S. President Donald Trump after a group of Israeli settlers entered the site, damaged equipment and halted operations. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday near the town of Qalqilya, involved a convoy of roughly a dozen vehicles and resulted in the destruction of several excavators and the theft of building materials. The quarry, which supplies stone for construction projects in both Palestinian and Israeli markets, is operated by the al‑Saadi family, who said the raid left the business unable to meet existing contracts and threatened the livelihood of dozens of workers.

The owner, Mahmoud al‑Saadi, submitted a letter to Trump’s office citing previous U.S. statements that emphasized the need for stability and the protection of private property in the occupied territories. He urged the former president to use his influence with the current Israeli administration to secure compensation and to prevent future settler incursions. Israeli authorities have not yet commented on the raid, while the Israeli civil administration, which oversees settlement activity, indicated that an investigation would be opened. The appeal underscores ongoing tensions over land use and security in the West Bank, where settler violence and disputes over resource control remain a persistent source of friction.