Settlers besiege Palestinian homes in Qusra, residents forced to leave
About a dozen Palestinian households in the village of Qusra were told to leave their homes during an Israeli military operation aimed at removing settlers who had been besieging the area. The settlers had blocked the residential gates, cutting off power and water supplies since Sunday.
Qusra’s mayor, Abdel Azim Wadi, said the village had been declared a closed military zone, and Israeli forces had used some vacated houses as barracks. The army’s statement claimed the operation was to protect the residents, but it also promised to investigate the aggression and arrest those responsible. Israeli spokesman David Mencer described the settlers’ actions as "deplorable" and "unacceptable."
Settlers’ expansion under the current government has heightened violent incidents, as more Palestinians are forcibly evicted from their homes. Each settlement is illegal under international law, yet the Israeli government continues to support new outposts. In Qusra, several families—such as the Abu Ridi and Hassan households—were compelled to leave, leaving their homes empty and at risk of further damage.
UN statistics reveal that this year more than 76 Palestinians, including 18 children, have been killed in the West Bank, while over 6,390 Palestinians have been displaced. The Israeli ambassador to the UN dismissed these settlements as inevitable, citing biblical and historic claims. The escalating violence underscores a broader humanitarian crisis that demands urgent international attention.
