QUSRA, West Bank (AP) — For five consecutive nights, Israeli settlers have surrounded three Palestinian homes on the outskirts of the town of Qusra, hindering the families' ability to leave as their food and water supplies diminished. Among those trapped were Qusai Abu Rida and his teenage son, who had to rely on well water after settlers cut their access to water and electricity. Abu Rida's brother, a Palestinian American residing in Ohio and owner of the property, monitored the siege through security cameras and sought updates from inside.
The standoff in Qusra represents another incident in a growing wave of settler violence in the West Bank, a territory seized by Israel during the 1967 Mideast war, which is expected to constitute the majority of a future Palestinian state. The situation intensified when U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee referred to the settlers as "terrorists," a term typically reserved for Palestinian militants. This remark marked an unusual shift in rhetoric from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has historically provided substantial support for Israeli settlements.
Criticism of Israel from the United States has increased recently, posing a potential challenge for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is attempting to maintain favorable relations with his country’s principal ally while also mobilizing ultranationalist voters ahead of a difficult reelection campaign in October.
Despite military interventions, settlers have persisted in occupying the area. On Sunday, it was reported that dozens of settlers blocked the doors to the homes in Qusra, isolating the families within. Homeowner Loui Ridi, also living in Ohio, claimed that although the Israeli military had intervened multiple times, settlers continued to return. Rights organizations have often suggested that the Israeli military turns a blind eye to settler violence or actively intervenes to protect settlers.
In response to the siege, Israel's military condemned the actions as "illegal, reprehensible, and unacceptable," designating Qusra as a closed military zone. Nevertheless, settlers returned the following day, attempting to obstruct roads with rocks and clashing with Israeli soldiers, as captured on video by local villagers. On Thursday, the military stated that troops dismantled two illegal outposts in Qusra and a nearby village while detaining one Israeli. Additional soldiers were deployed for defensive missions and patrols thereafter.
Further complicating the situation, Qusra Mayor Abdel Azim Wadi stated that Israeli forces evacuated over a dozen homes to establish military positions in the vicinity, yet settlers managed to stay in other areas of the village. Abu Rida recounted how soldiers ordered occupants of all homes to evacuate into one besieged house. Although the military claimed that families were allowed to remain in their homes, Abu Rida reported that they had not yet returned. Questions remain regarding when the families will have access to basic supplies and the fate of their homes following the ongoing disruptions.
Settler violence has escalated in recent years under Netanyahu's ultranationalist government, which promotes a strong settlement agenda and rejects Palestinian statehood. On Thursday, members of Netanyahu's Cabinet celebrated the reconstruction of a settlement that had been dismantled in 2005, signaling a new era focused on construction and expansion rather than withdrawal.
During Trump's first term, his administration signaled broad acceptance of Israeli settlements, which are widely regarded by the international community as illegal and detrimental to peace efforts. In his second term, he lifted sanctions on settlers accused of violence. Huckabee, a long-time supporter of settlement policies, expressed strong condemnation of the violence in Qusra, describing the actions meant to intimidate the Abu Rida family as despicable. He noted that the U.S. embassy is working in coordination with the Israeli military and police.
Qusra has seen significant attention due to violent settler attacks, with reports indicating more incidents in this village than anywhere else in the West Bank in 2026. A young resident was shot dead by an off-duty Israeli reservist earlier this year, and the U.N. reported multiple injuries related to settler assaults. Overall, 87 Palestinians have reportedly been killed by Israeli settlers and soldiers this year, with a significant number of these fatalities being cataloged regardless of the victims' involvement in violent activities.
In 2026, the Palestinian authorities reported 1,476 attacks by Israeli settlers, including the overtaking of Palestinian homes and properties. The Israeli military claims to strive for law and order within the territory, attributing settler violence to a small group of extremists acting outside the law. Currently, approximately 2.8 million Palestinians live under Israeli military control in the West Bank, where Israeli settlers now number over 560,000. There have not been any peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians in over a decade.
Mayor Wadi articulated the community's plight, stating, "This is not a life that can continue this way. Too much pressure eventually causes an explosion."
