Israeli settlers have been encircled two Palestinian families in the West Bank village of Qusra since Sunday, severing their water, power and food supplies.
\The Abu Ridi and Hassan families, who still live in their homes under the threat of siege, have posted on social media, describing their desperation: “We are completely isolated.” They add, “We are living in our own home, on our own land, and we are asking for nothing more than the right to live safely and with dignity.”
\Israeli security forces first appeared on the scene after the families had called for help. In footage released by the Israeli Human Rights group Yesh Din, soldiers are shown praying alongside the settlers, and later soldiers used tear gas and stun grenades to neutralise a crowd of settlers and restore access to the families. Yet the outpost remains, with a dozen settlers reportedly still present.
\The IDF issued a statement condemning the establishment of the outpost, calling it “illegal, reprehensible, and unacceptable.” It also said the “disciplinary action would be taken against the security personnel involved.” Nonetheless, the situation left the families surrounded, with access to basic services cut off.
\The UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Ramiz Alakbarov, warned the Security Council that the West Bank is “at breaking point,” adding that violent settler activity has caused the displacement of over 3,800 Palestinians this year. He cited the ongoing siege of Qusra as emblematic of the broader crisis.
\Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, challenged the view that settlements impede peace, asserting that Israeli settlements “will remain and continue to grow as Israel has biblical, historic and legal rights to the land.” He urged the International community to acknowledge a “simple truth: we are not going anywhere.”
\The families’ pleas highlight a pressing call for humanitarian assistance: the Israeli authorities are urged to lift the siege, protect residents, and hold the settlers accountable. Until then, the conflict remains a stark reminder of the human cost of unsettled territorial disputes.
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