The United States ambassador to Israel has issued an unusually strong condemnation of Israeli settlers who have besieged three Palestinian families in the West Bank village of Qusra. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, typically a staunch supporter of Israeli settlements, labeled the attackers as “Israeli terrorists” and described their actions as “disgusting.” This marks one of the most forceful public rebukes a US ambassador has delivered regarding settler violence, with Huckabee stating that American embassy officials have been actively involved in requesting military and police intervention to remove the settlers.
The siege, which began on Sunday, has left approximately 15 residents—including two children—trapped in their homes without access to water or electricity. Among those confined is an American-Palestinian homeowner from Toledo, Ohio, whose family refuses to evacuate out of fear that settlers will seize their property if they leave. The families are surviving on temporary solar power and stored well water. The situation has prompted condemnation from the United Nations human rights office and Palestinian authorities, who warn that displacement may be imminent.
Despite military and police operations to remove the settlers from the area, Palestinian residents remain skeptical about the government’s commitment to resolving the crisis. Local officials believe Israeli forces may be “staging” their response for international audiences and that the settlers will likely return. This incident reflects decades of escalating settler attacks in Qusra and broader concerns about insufficient accountability for such actions in the occupied territories.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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