Israeli Forces Expel Palestinians from Qusra After Settler Siege
Dozens of Palestinian families in the village of Qusra, in the occupied West Bank, have been forced to leave their homes by the Israeli military. The expulsion took place amid a military operation that Israel claims is aimed at restoring order against illegal Israeli settler groups.
Earlier, Israeli settler groups had besieged three homes belonging to the Abu Ridi and Hassan families in the village since Sunday. They cut off electricity and clean water supplies. The head of Qusra village, Abdel Azim Wadi, said the Israeli military had designated his area as a closed military zone and converted several evacuated homes into army barracks.
Israeli government spokesman David Mencer condemned the settlers’ actions. “The Israeli army is acting against that, we are investigating it, and we will arrest those responsible and bring them to justice,” Mencer said.
Violence by settler groups in the West Bank has continued to surge recently, alongside the rapid expansion of settlements backed by the Israeli government. This is seen as a systematic effort to drive Palestinians from their land, even though all Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law.
The intimidation of the Abu Ridi family has also drawn international condemnation. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee strongly criticised the action in a post on social media platform X. “The actions by those who carried out this horrific act of terror intended to intimidate and harass this family are utterly repugnant. There is no excuse for such thuggish behaviour,” Huckabee said.
The Israeli military (IDF) claimed to have dismantled two illegal outposts, detained one Israeli citizen, and seized equipment on the border of Qusra and Jalud. However, the military’s handling of settler actions has been criticised as slow and often detrimental to local residents.
United Nations data records that escalating violence in the West Bank has claimed the lives of 76 Palestinians so far this year as a result of actions by Israeli forces and settlers. In addition, the UN reports that around 3,800 Palestinians have been forced to flee due to waves of settler violence, evictions, and home demolitions.