Israeli troops evict Palestinian families from their homes after settler siege: A meticulous attempt at ethnic cleansing

Israel deployed military forces to the Palestinian village of Qusra in the West Bank following four days of siege by radical Jewish settlers, according to Israeli army statements. The operation was launched after intervention by the United States and aimed to protect residents and ensure security in the area. However, troops have not yet removed the settlers who have been present near the homes since Sunday. Instead, they evacuated and occupied six Palestinian houses, according to the mayor of Qusra, Abed Al Athem Wadi. These actions are part of preparations for a campaign intended to end the siege, which has drawn increasing international attention over the past few days. The two targeted homes are located on a hill overlooking the village of Qusra, surrounded by steep slopes. One house resembles many others in the West Bank, built with grey concrete and flat roofs. The other is more luxurious, constructed by a Palestinian man holding U.S. citizenship. From this vantage point, the views northward across the West Bank are breathtaking, while the sight of settlements surrounding Qusra and nearby Palestinian communities is less pleasant for its residents. They have long known these settlements pose a threat to their land and homes, and there have been previous incidents of aggression, though largely confined to local activist circles. This particular attack by the settlers has garnered interest beyond the region. Despite ongoing ethnic cleansing efforts in the West Bank, this case stands out. Since Sunday, August 9, dozens of religious Zionist settlers have been besieging the two homes, isolating their inhabitants from the outside world. They set up a forward post under a canopy at the gate of the larger home, blocking traffic on the road connecting it to the village. There, they pray and sleep, attempting to drive the families away by cutting off water and electricity supplies, preventing food deliveries, and creating an atmosphere of fear. The families know that if they leave, they will likely never return, a fate that has happened before. According to the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem, since October 2023, Israel has forcibly displaced entire communities of Palestinians and partially displaced 15 more, affecting over 4,800 people, including more than 2,300 children. Aicha Abou Rida, who lives in one of the two homes, testified that despite being surrounded by settlers, she and her family remain determined not to leave. She stated, “We are surrounded by the settlers, but we endure. With God's help, we will not leave our homes no matter what happens. Even if they cut off our water and electricity, we will endure... Despite their repeated attacks aimed at driving us out, if God wills it, we will stay in our homes, even if it costs us our lives.” Efforts by the settlers to expel Palestinian families from their homes to build an illegal outpost are common in the West Bank. However, several recent events have attracted some international attention, albeit limited. The U.S. nationality of one of the individuals under siege has drawn the attention of the White House. Several Israeli journalists from the newspaper Haaretz were attacked by settlers when trying to reach the besieged properties. While attacking media professionals is not uncommon, such violations of the right to report gain more traction when involving Israeli colleagues. Videos recorded by the two Israeli journalists and others, including foreign reporters and activists, further highlight the collusion between parts of the Israeli military and settlers. One particularly striking video shows soldiers praying alongside aggressors they were supposed to remove. This occurred in a declared military zone, raising questions about the role of the military in such situations. Israeli troops forced two Palestinian families to leave their homes in Qusra, despite a high-ranking Israeli officer personally promising to end the settlers' violent campaign to expel them from the village. Soldiers also seized eight additional homes in Qusra early Thursday, claiming the buildings were necessary for a multi-day operation targeting the removal of settlers. Later, they returned six of the homes to their owners, although the settlers continued to roam the village. The ordeal began last Sunday when settlers and Israeli soldiers installed a tent blocking access to three homes on the outskirts of the village. They cut off water and electricity supplies and prevented an ambulance from reaching a sick young child. Around 10 a.m., the army arrived and asked the residents to evacuate due to a military operation in the area lasting three days. Qusai Ridi, a resident of Qusra, refused to leave and was later moved to a single house by the soldiers. In the afternoon, he was allowed back into his home, where he found that Israeli soldiers had damaged a security camera system and stolen some equipment. Soldiers still occupy the home of his neighbor Yousef Hassan, where Ridi now resides. The settlers continue to patrol areas where Amir Moatasem Odeh, 28, was killed by a settler in March. Another attacker stabbed his father. No arrests have been made for the murder or assault. Ridi expressed fear and skepticism about the military’s ability to remove the settlers, though he hopes they will eventually do so. His brother holds U.S. citizenship, and Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who often supports illegal Israeli settlement projects, described the siege as a “terrible act of terrorism” committed by Israeli terrorists. On Thursday afternoon, Israeli soldiers left six homes they had occupied earlier in the day. Families returning to their homes reported damage, including a Quran with pages torn out and decorations destroyed. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, increasingly critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, called the siege a “concerted and meticulous attempt at ethnic cleansing,” leaving him outraged and ashamed. He accused the Israeli government of actively supporting these crimes and criticized the Israeli Defense Forces and police for their indifference and inaction. Similar tactics were used to force another Palestinian family to leave their home in the neighboring village of Jalud in July. Soldiers and settlers were filmed playing football together on the terrace of that house on Thursday. A spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces stated that orders were given to soldiers not to displace Palestinian residents of Qusra.