Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, strongly denounced the actions of Israeli settlers who besieged a Palestinian American family’s home in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, labeling it as a “horrific act of terror.” The settlers, over the past few days, have gathered near the house in the village of Qusra, harassing the occupants and obstructing their movement despite efforts by the Israeli military to resolve the situation.
The group of settlers, including numerous men, has engaged in aggressive behavior such as throwing stones, attempting to demolish a nearby stone wall, and blocking the family from leaving, resulting in limited supplies for the residents inside. Qusai Abu Rida, who had taken shelter in the house with his son to protect it, mentioned that they were eventually moved to another location by the Israeli military but are still restricted in their movements.
The Israeli military did not confirm the relocation of any residents. Loui Ridi, the homeowner speaking from Ohio, revealed that the settlers had been targeting his residence in Qusra for months before the recent escalation of events. Huckabee expressed that Israeli military and police had been requested to intervene and remove the individuals responsible for the harassment.
The U.S. ambassador criticized the actions of the settlers, describing their behavior as an attempt to intimidate and harass the family. Qusra Mayor Abed Al Athem Wadi reported that six homes in the village had been evacuated by Israeli soldiers, with three homes on the hilltop remaining under siege. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) condemned the actions aimed at coercing residents to abandon their homes and land.
Recent interventions by Israeli troops aimed to restore order in the area, with the military dismantling two illegal outposts on the outskirts of Qusra and detaining one individual. The surge of soldiers in the region, located approximately 16 kilometers from Nablus, was part of defensive operations and patrols to maintain stability.
The escalation of settler violence has raised concerns among human rights organizations and foreign governments, including Canada, who have denounced the attacks. Critics, including Palestinians and Israeli opposition members, accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of tolerating settler aggression. Despite the Israeli military denouncing the siege as unlawful and declaring the region a closed military zone, settlers returned to block roads with rocks the following day.
Qusra, situated in a volatile region of the northern West Bank surrounded by settlements, has witnessed previous incidents of violence, such as the recent burning of a mosque and clashes resulting in casualties. The expansion of settlements, considered illegitimate under international law but supported by Israel, has faced global condemnation for undermining prospects of a Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank. Palestinians aspire to establish a state encompassing the West Bank, which was seized by Israel in the 1967 war, while many settlers argue for Israeli sovereignty over the entire area based on historical, religious, and security considerations.