Israeli military intervenes in Qusra as settlers besiege Palestinian homes
Troops dismantle illegal outposts and evacuate local residences as village faces effective lockdown; international bodies demand accountability for violence targeting Palestinian families.
The Israeli Defence Force has deployed troops to the occupied West Bank village of Qusra to intervene in a multi-day siege of three Palestinian homes by Israeli settlers. The military operation, which involved the dismantling of two illegal settler outposts and the detention of one Israeli individual, comes after dozens of settlers surrounded the properties, cutting off water, electricity, and essential supplies to the occupants.
One of the besieged properties is owned by Loui Ridi, a Palestinian-American resident of Ohio. The involvement of a US citizen prompted an unusually sharp rebuke from US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who described the settlers' actions as "criminal" and "thuggish." Despite the condemnation, Huckabee defended the response of US and Israeli authorities, stating that the IDF and Israel Police acted at the request of the US Embassy to remove the individuals involved.
According to the IDF, an additional infantry battalion was deployed to the area following clashes with approximately 50 to 60 settlers. While the military dismantled the outposts and detained one person, it was not immediately clear if the individual faced formal arrest or investigation. Local officials reported that Israeli forces also evacuated seven Palestinian homes to establish military positions within the village.
The siege, which began on Sunday, has left three families trapped in their residences with dwindling supplies. Qusai Abu Rida, brother of Loui Ridi, confirmed that he and his son were moved by the military to another home but remained unable to leave the area, located approximately 16 kilometres from Nablus. Residents describe the village as being under an effective lockdown, with strict controls preventing entry and restricting the flow of food and water.
International bodies have called for immediate action against the violence. The UN Human Rights Office stated that the settlers' actions, supported or acquiesced to by the occupying power, are aimed at forcing Palestinian families from their land. EU foreign policy spokesperson Anitta Hipper also urged Israel to take concrete measures to prevent settler violence, which has increased in recent years amid the broader conflict in Gaza.
Palestinian officials and critics of the Israeli government have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration of turning a blind eye to settler attacks. While government officials often characterise such incidents as the actions of fringe individuals acting outside the law, the UN reported that 18 Palestinians have died in settler-related attacks in the first seven months of this year.
