The US ambassador has called Israeli settlers "terrorists", as the siege of Palestinian Qusra continues

Israeli military forces have been deployed to the occupied West Bank following escalating tensions involving Jewish settlers who have besieged the homes of two Palestinian families in the village of Qusra, south of Nablus. The situation has drawn sharp criticism from U.S. officials, including former president Donald Trump, who called the settlers “terrorists” in response to the unfolding crisis. The families, the Abu Ridi and Hasan households, have been cut off from essential services such as water and electricity, with their food supplies dwindling to less than three days' worth. The conflict began last Sunday when settlers blocked access roads leading to the Palestinian homes and severed utilities, prompting emergency calls for aid. The initial confrontation took place when Israeli border police attempted to remove the settlers from the area, but footage showed officers instead engaging in dialogue rather than enforcing removals. This led to internal disciplinary actions within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which issued statements indicating that some personnel would face sanctions over their handling of the situation. On Wednesday, security forces again tried to displace the settlers, but after clashes, they withdrew once more. The reluctance of the military to act decisively against the settlers has raised concerns among local residents and international observers alike. The current standoff in Qusra follows a series of incidents involving Jewish settlers in the region. Last month, a mosque was set on fire in Qusra, and Hebrew graffiti appeared near the site. Earlier this year, settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Tal, resulting in four Palestinian deaths and two Israeli soldiers killed in the ensuing violence. In July, settlers encircled a Palestinian home in the nearby village of Jalud, holding it under siege for over two weeks before the occupants fled and the settlers seized the property, which remains in their possession today. Loai Ridi, the owner of the house currently under siege, has been held captive in his home without food, water, or electricity since Sunday. He told the BBC that his house was attacked again during the night, and several settlers remained in the area hiding from the military. Ridi’s case has drawn attention due to his status as an American citizen and businessman who has publicly criticized the situation through media channels in the United States. His plight prompted involvement from the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, known for his staunch support of pro-Israel policies. Huckabee stated that the U.S. embassy had intervened with Israeli authorities regarding the harassment of the Ridi family in Qusra, describing the attackers as “Israeli terrorists.” He responded to claims about the U.S. reaction by stating, “This is another lie,” asserting that the embassy was very involved and that both the IDF and Israeli police had gone to remove the “Israeli terrorists” responsible. According to public television station Kan, citing data from Israeli security forces, the number of serious incidents committed by extremist Jewish settlers in the West Bank has increased by 63 percent during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year. During the first six months of 2026, 660 attacks by settlers were recorded, up from 405 in the same period in 2025. According to UN figures, 76 Palestinians, including 18 children, have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers this year. Additionally, three Israelis, including one civilian, have been killed in conflicts with Palestinians. Since January 2023, 127 Palestinian villages in the West Bank have experienced complete or partial displacement, including 47 fully evacuated villages affecting more than 6,390 Palestinians. The growing unrest has been described by some analysts as a “metastasizing cancer” spreading across the occupied territories. Despite the Israeli government's efforts to manage the situation, the increasing frequency and severity of settler violence continue to challenge both domestic and international responses. As the conflict escalates, the international community watches closely, awaiting further developments and potential interventions.