Israeli Settlers Besiege Palestinian Homes in West Bank Village of Qusra

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Israeli troops took up positions inside Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra, according to local officials, following a days-long siege by Jewish settlers that trapped families, cut off water and electricity supplies, and left residents facing severe shortages of basic necessities.

The Escalation in Qusra Village

The siege began over the weekend when Jewish settlers closed off access roads to three homes in Qusra, south of Nablus, and erected a tent in the front yards. According to Reuters, the settlers blocked all entry and exit points after cutting off local electricity and water lines. The United Nations reported that approximately 15 Palestinians, including two children, were trapped inside their homes in what officials described as a state of terror.

Aisha Abu Rida, a resident trapped by the blockade, described the harrowing conditions to Al Jazeera. “We are surrounded by settlers, but we are steadfast, God willing. We will not leave our home, no matter what happens,” she said, noting that water and electricity supplies had been severed entirely.

Loui Ridi, an American-Palestinian based in Ohio whose brother Qusai Abu Rida and 18-year-old nephew Ahmed are trapped inside one of the targeted properties, watched the developments unfold through home security cameras. “He does not want to leave the home. Because if he leaves the home, the settlers will take over immediately,” Ridi told Al Jazeera. He noted that the family was relying exclusively on a temporary solar power system and leftover winter well water.

Military Deployment and International Response

By Thursday, the Israeli military reinforced its presence in the area, sending additional troops into Qusra village. Abed Al Athem Wadi, the mayor of Qusra, confirmed to Reuters that soldiers had taken up positions inside three homes—one on the village outskirts among the besieged properties, and two closer to the village center. Residents reported that military personnel informed them operations in the area could last until Sunday morning.

The military stated that soldiers deployed to Qusra since Thursday morning were instructed to protect residents and maintain operational control. Earlier in the week, video footage circulated showing Israeli soldiers joining settlers in morning prayer near the encampment. The military stated it was taking disciplinary action against any security personnel involved in those incidents, describing initial rogue land seizures and settlement activity as illegal and unacceptable.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stated that the military and police went to remove the individuals responsible, calling the actions against the family’s home criminal. Meanwhile, human rights monitors and international bodies have pointed to an ongoing rise in settler violence across the West Bank, fueled by rapid settlement expansion under the right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Community Resilience and Legal Support Infrastructure

As families grapple with damaged property, hurled stones, and food supplies dwindling to critical lows, residents point to a broader pattern of displacement affecting Area B of the West Bank. In the neighboring village of Jalud, a similar two-week siege in July resulted in two Palestinian families losing their land to settlers.