Israeli military deploys reinforcements to Qusra after settlers besiege Palestinian families

The Israeli military has deployed an additional infantry battalion to the occupied West Bank village of Qusra, south of Nablus, following a prolonged siege by dozens of Israeli settlers against three Palestinian families. The deployment comes after security forces clashed with the group on Wednesday but failed to fully disperse them or evacuate the residents, prompting the military to promise disciplinary action against personnel involved.

The siege, which began on Sunday, has left the families trapped in their homes with water, electricity, and essential supplies cut off. Residents report relying on temporary solar power systems and leftover well water as supplies dwindle. Aisha Abu Rida, a resident under siege, stated that despite repeated attacks aimed at displacement, her family would remain steadfast in their homes.

Israeli security forces arrived on Wednesday and dismantled a settler tent, clashing with approximately 50 to 60 individuals. However, residents and relatives allege that the intervention was insufficient. Loai Ridi, an American-Palestinian relative of those trapped, described the situation as difficult, noting that his brother and nephew had only two to three days of food supplies remaining. Ridi alleged that Israeli soldiers knelt to pray alongside settlers during the incident, footage of which has circulated on social media.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Israeli military condemned the settlers' activity as "illegal, reprehensible and unacceptable." The military's chief of general staff ordered continued efforts to strengthen operational control and prevent further incidents. The military also confirmed that disciplinary action would be taken against security personnel filmed at the site in the preceding days.

The incident in Qusra occurs against a backdrop of intensified violence in the occupied West Bank. The United Nations has warned that the situation has reached a "breaking point," with Deputy Special Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov documenting over 1,430 settler attacks in 2026 alone. Alakbarov noted that these developments are interconnected steps reshaping the territory and advancing de facto annexation, while UN figures indicate that 76 Palestinians, including 18 children, have been killed in the territory this year.

Qusra is located in Area B, nominally under Palestinian civil administration, but has faced a string of recent attacks, including the burning of a newly built mosque last month. A similar two-week siege in the neighbouring village of Jalud in July forced two other Palestinian families off their land before settlers took over the property.

The right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has overseen a rapid expansion of settlement construction, with more than 500,000 Israelis living in settlements considered illegal under international law. According to the settlement watchdog Peace Now, there are 146 settlements and 390 smaller outposts in the West Bank, with Israeli authorities having approved roughly 12,360 housing units this year.