In brief
Since Sunday, Israeli settlers have surrounded the homes of two Palestinian families in Qusra near Nablus, cutting water, electricity, and food supplies. Israeli security forces withdrew from the outpost on Wednesday after clashes, but a dozen settlers remain, threatening to force residents out. Palestinian residents and rights groups are calling on the Israeli army to step in as the UN Security Council warned the West Bank is at breaking point. An IDF statement condemned the outpost as illegal, while a Palestinian ambulance was finally allowed in on Tuesday. The situation remains volatile, with tear gas and stun grenades used by Israeli soldiers in confrontations with the settlers.
Settlers lay siege to two Palestinian families in West Bank village
Since Sunday, Israeli settlers have surrounded the homes of the Abu Ridi and Hassan families in Qusra near Nablus, cutting off water, electricity and food supplies. The families are calling for help on social media, saying “our houses are closed, and we are running out of supplies.”
On Wednesday, Israeli security forces paused the outpost amid clashes with a crowd of extremist settlers. A dozen settlers are reported to still be present, holding doors with stones and blasting tear gas at residents. The IDF later condemned the outpost as illegal and vowed to evacuate the settlers and protect the families.
Eyewitness footage shows settlers tearing down a wall outside the Abu Ridi home on Sunday evening and using stones to block the road. With no way to leave, the families are trapped in Area B, controlled by Palestinian administration and Israeli security.
The UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process warned the Security Council that “the West Bank is at breaking point,” citing 76 Palestinian deaths this year and nearly 3,800 displaced Palestinians linked to settlement violence.
A Palestinian ambulance finally reached the families on Tuesday, delivering food and extracting a child for medical care. Israeli soldiers and border police later used tear gas and stun grenades during a confrontation with a large crowd of settlers.
The situation remains fluid, with regular updates from local reporters and social media. Users are encouraged to share verified photographs and videos to help crowd‑source fact‑checking.
