In brief
Israeli settlers maintain a hostile pivot around the homes of the Abu Ridi and Hassan families in Qusra, a village near Nablus in the West Bank. The families report power cuts, food shortages and a complete isolation from the outside world. Despite Israeli military presence, the outpost remains in place, drawing criticism from human‑rights groups and a declaration from the UN Security Council that the West Bank is reaching a breaking point. The latest crackdown involved tear gas, stun grenades, and the confiscation of settler tents, raising questions about the legality of outposts and the role of the IDF in protecting civilians. The incident underscores a broader pattern of violence that has displaced thousands of Palestinians in recent months.
Israeli settlers have besieged two Palestinian families in Qusra, a village near Nablus in the West Bank
In the early hours of 31‑minute‑ago the Abu Ridi and Hassan families found themselves cut off from supplies as power and water lines were severed. Settlers occupying a temporary outpost have prevented delivery of food, medical bags and even a small ambulance that finally reached the houses on Tuesday.
Following clashes on Wednesday, about a dozen settlers remained at the site, while Israeli soldiers arrived only to find themselves praying with the occupants. The outpost was later called “illegal, reprehensible, and unacceptable” by the Israel Defence Forces’ statement, which also condemned the seizure of Palestinian homes.
Security‑camera footage released by the BBC shows settlers tearing down a powder‑filled wall and blocking roads with carried stones, trapping seven residents—including two young girls—inside the village’s Area B.
The incident comes amid a UN Security Council briefing where the middle‑east deputy special coordinator highlighted the “unprecedented” rise in settler violence in the Nablus governorate. UN figures report 76 Palestinians killed in the West Bank this year, with 18 children among them.
The Israeli ambassador to the UN dismissed settlements as an obstacle to peace, insisting on Israel’s “biblical, historic and legal rights” to the land. In contrast, human‑rights advocates urge the central command to evacuate the outpost, hold settlers accountable, and protect the besieged families.
An image captured by the BBC shows a besieged Palestinian home in Qusra, reflecting the tension that now envelops the village:
