Palestinian Families Ordered to Leave Homes as Israeli Military Confronts Settler Siege in Qusra
About a dozen Palestinian households in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra were ordered to leave their properties during an Israeli military operation aimed at removing Israeli settlers. The settlers had besieged residents in three local homes since Sunday, cutting off their electricity and water supplies.
The mayor of Qusra, Abdel Azim Wadi, stated that the village had been declared a closed military zone. According to Wadi, Israeli forces were using some of the vacated Palestinian houses as temporary barracks. The Israeli military stated that the objective of its operation was "to protect the residents."
An Israeli government spokesman, David Mencer, described the actions of the settlers as "deplorable" and "unacceptable," adding that an investigation is underway. "The Israeli army is acting against it, and we are investigating it and we will arrest those responsible and we will prosecute them," Mencer said.
Details of the Siege and Evictions
The siege directly affected the Abu Ridi and Hassan families, who occupy three homes in Qusra. On Thursday, residents of two of these homes were instructed by the military to leave, subsequently moving into the third house. Elsewhere in the village, the residents of 11 other houses were also ordered to leave by the army.
Overnight footage from the area showed approximately a dozen Israeli security vehicles, including a bulldozer, entering the village. Later daytime footage showed a long line of Israeli security forces deployed on the road leading to Qusra. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed they had "dismantled two illegal outposts" and detained one Israeli while confiscating equipment on the outskirts of the Qusra and Jalud areas, near Nablus.
One resident, Qaher Odeh, recounted how between 20 and 30 soldiers entered his home on Thursday morning. "They came in and broke down the door, shouting open up, open the door," Odeh said, adding that he and his brother were forced to leave. "Shortly afterwards, they sealed off the entire area. There were people being forced out of their homes. A lot of people."
Allegations of Property Damage and Theft
After being displaced for approximately 10 hours, some families were permitted to return to their properties, only to find them upturned. One resident reported that soldiers had emptied his refrigerator, throwing out all the food, and stole $1,500 in cash. The IDF did not address these specific allegations when questioned, but stated that "the soldiers were instructed that the Qusra residents will remain in their homes." The military also stated that soldiers would not operate inside the Palestinian home that had been subjected to the settler siege.
The IDF emphasized that its liaison officers maintain ongoing contact with Qusra's local leadership to minimize disruptions to daily life. However, Qusay Abu Ridi, a member of one of the trapped families, reported that their house was attacked again overnight and that some settlers remained in the area, hiding from the army. His brother, a Palestinian-American businessman who owns the property, has lodged a complaint with the United States embassy.
The US Ambassador, Mike Huckabee, condemned the settler intimidation, calling it "a horrific act of terror" and "thuggish behavior" on social media, stating there was "no excuse" for the actions.
Escalating Tensions and Broader Context
The standoff in Qusra began on Sunday when settlers blocked access roads to the Palestinian families' gates and severed their utility lines. The initial Israeli soldiers who arrived at the scene were filmed praying with the settlers, an action the military later stated would result in disciplinary measures. On Wednesday, security forces clashed with a larger group of settlers while attempting to dislodge them, utilizing tear gas and stun grenades.
Mayor Wadi noted a "clear and sustained pattern of targeting Qusra," pointing to an incident last month where a newly completed mosque was set on fire and defaced with Hebrew graffiti. This follows a broader trend of rising settler violence in the West Bank, which critics attribute to the rapid expansion of settlements under the current Israeli government. All settlements are considered illegal under international law.
According to United Nations figures, 76 Palestinians, including 18 children, have been killed in the West Bank this year by Israeli forces or settlers, while three Israelis have been killed in confrontations. Since January 2023, the UN reports that 127 Palestinian communities have experienced full or partial displacement, affecting more than 6,390 people.
In response to international concerns, Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, dismissed the assertion that settlements present an obstacle to peace, asserting Israel's biblical, historic, and legal rights to the land.
