Besieged in Qusra: Settlers Cut Utilities and Isolate Two Palestinian Families as Tensions Escalate

Israeli settlers have surrounded and effectively besieged the homes of two Palestinian families in the West Bank village of Qusra, near Nablus, since Sunday, cutting water and electricity and blocking access to food and medical care, residents say. Human rights groups and UN officials have urged Israeli authorities to act as footage circulated showing clashes between settlers and security forces.

What Happened

Palestinian residents and security-camera footage show settlers demolishing a wall outside the Abu Ridi family home and using the rubble to block the road, leaving seven people — including two young girls — trapped inside. The families, identified as the Abu Ridi and Hassan households, say their water and power were cut and their food supplies dwindled.

Initial Response And Footage

When the homeowners first reported the incident to the Israel Defense Forces, video circulated of some of the initial soldiers praying alongside settlers. Later footage shared with international media shows confrontations between Israeli soldiers, border police and a large crowd of settlers; security forces are seen using tear gas and stun grenades.

Official Reactions

The IDF released a statement condemning the establishment of the new settler outpost, calling the seizure of Palestinian homes "illegal, reprehensible, and unacceptable activity." The military said it would take disciplinary action against security personnel documented at the site and that border police evacuated a canopy where some settlers had sheltered.

Israeli human rights group Yesh Din urged the head of the military’s Central Command to protect the besieged residents, evacuate the outpost and hold those responsible accountable. Major General Avi Bluth, head of Central Command, and other senior officers reportedly met residents and expressed "grave concern." A Palestinian ambulance was later allowed to reach the homes to deliver food and evacuate a child for treatment.

Context And Wider Impact

The incident comes amid heightened violence and displacement across the West Bank. A senior UN official warned the Security Council that "the West Bank is at breaking point." According to UN figures cited in the coverage, dozens of Palestinians have been killed this year by Israeli forces or settlers, and thousands have been displaced by settler violence, demolitions and evictions since 2023.

Local officials say Qusra has been repeatedly targeted: residents reported a mosque burned last month with Hebrew graffiti nearby, and other nearby villages have seen prolonged sieges and property seizures by settlers in recent months.

Voices From Qusra

"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," Qusay Abu Ridi wrote on social media.

Aysha Hassan told Reuters: "They tried to break the gate, started throwing stones at us, cursing and insulting us. We are dying of fear, extremely terrified."

Media Access And Accountability

Journalists from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz said settlers blocked them from reaching the properties and that soldiers initially refused to help when their vehicle was obstructed. The IDF said the area was declared a closed military zone, though the restriction appeared to be enforced differently for settlers and journalists according to reports.

This episode is part of a broader pattern that rights groups and UN officials say has increased displacement and violence in the West Bank, prompting urgent appeals for protection and accountability.