Settlers besiege Palestinian families in Qusra, West Bank
Since Sunday, Israeli settlers have surrounded the homes of the Abu Ridi and Hassan families in the village of Qusra near Nablus, cutting off water, electricity and food supplies. The encirclement has left the families isolated, with supplies running low and the residents urging help on social media.
Footage released by Palestinian security cameras shows settlers tearing down a wall beside the Abu Ridi house, blocking the road and using stones to enforce a blockade. The Israeli Security Forces initially appeared to pray alongside the settlers before withdrawing, leaving a dozen settlers at the site.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) issued a statement condemning the outpost as “illegal, reprehensible and unacceptable.” They said a “disciplinary action” would be taken against border police who had allowed settlers to occupy a tent and the area remains an ongoing incident.
Meanwhile, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process warned that the West Bank is at a breaking point and cited escalating violence that had already resulted in 76 Palestinian deaths—including 18 children—this year, and the displacement of more than 3,800 Palestinians.
Amid the siege, a Palestinian ambulance finally reached the families on Tuesday, delivering food and transporting one child for medical treatment. The IDF confirmed that it had met with the residents, voiced grave concern and acknowledged the need to protect pal‑estinian civilians.
Human rights group Yesh Din urgently appealed to the Israeli central command for troops to evacuate the settlers’ outpost and hold the actors accountable. Israeli ambassador Danny Danon dismissed settlements as an obstacle to peace, arguing they were part of Israel’s biblical, historic and legal rights.
As the violence continues, the international community watches closely, with the UN Security Council discussions highlighting the urgent need for a resolution to the growing conflict in the occupied West Bank.
