A week-long blockade of a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank has drawn international condemnation. Since August 9, Israeli settlers have surrounded three homes in Qusra, south of Nablus, restricting access to water, electricity, and essential supplies. Approximately 15 Palestinians, including young children and a dual US citizen, are trapped inside the residences. The settlers reportedly began the encirclement as part of an effort to seize the properties, which residents say settlers from nearby outposts have targeted for months.
On Thursday, the Israeli military ordered residents to vacate two of the houses and consolidate into a single structure. That same day, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee characterized the besieging settlers as “Israeli terrorists,” marking a striking statement from a prominent settlement supporter. The United Nations and Palestinian authorities have condemned the siege as criminal and inhumane.
Military authorities declared the area a closed zone, preventing Israeli and international activists from delivering aid until UN coordination efforts enabled limited assistance on Sunday. This incident reflects broader patterns in the West Bank, where the UN documented an average of six settler attacks daily between January and June. Since October 2023, such incidents have accelerated under the current Israeli government, with settlements continuing to expand despite their illegal status under international law.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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