In brief
Two Palestinian families in the West Bank village of Qusra were besieged by Israeli settlers who cut off their power, water and road access. Activists dropped water and food outside the homes, unable to enter due to military restrictions. Israeli forces later removed a settlers’ tent and claimed the area was a closed military zone. The incident highlights ongoing settler violence and the broader struggle over control in the occupied territories.
Activists from a local NGO attempted to bring water and food to two Palestinians trapped in the Qusra village, a West Bank community that has been under siege since Sunday. Israeli settlers blocked the main road leading to the homes and cut off electricity and water, effectively isolating the families.
The activists placed supplies outside the houses, but the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) denied that they impeded the deliveries, citing the area’s designation as a closed military zone. On Friday, an additional group of settlers erected a tent near the site; Israeli soldiers later removed it, reportedly protecting local residents.
During a Thursday operation, several Palestinian households, including members of the Abu Ridi and Hassan families, were asked to leave their homes. The IDF said it was to "protect the residents" and that soldiers had been instructed that the Qusra residents would remain in their homes.
In a statement, the military described the settlers’ actions as “deplorable” and “unacceptable,” committing to investigate arrests. The siege in Qusra illustrates the escalating tension between settlers and Palestinian residents amid the Israeli government’s rapid expansion of settlements, a practice considered illegal under international law.
Since January 2023, 127 Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank have faced partial or full displacement, affecting more than 6,390 Palestinians, according to the UN. In 2026, roughly 3,800 Palestinians were displaced due to settler violence, demolitions, and evictions—nearly half of them children.
