Israeli Settlers Siege Palestinian Families in West Bank Village

Sun Sep 06 2026 02:22:29 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Two Palestinian families in Qusra, near Nablus, are besieged by settlers, blocking supplies and roads, sparking UN condemnation.

In Qusra, West Bank, Israeli settlers have surrounded two Palestinian homes, cutting water, power and food supplies. The Abu Ridi and Hassan families posted pleas for help on social media as Israel’s military struggled to respond. The UN has warned the West Bank is at breaking point, citing 76 Palestinians killed this year, with settlements deemed illegal by international law. Israeli forces later blocked settlers, used tear gas but also faced criticism for their enforcement. The situation highlights the rising settler violence, especially around Nablus, and the urgent need for international intervention.

Israeli settlers besieging Palestinian families in West Bank village

Israeli settlers have been surrounding two Palestinian homes in Qusra, West Bank, since Sunday, cutting off water, power, and food supplies. The Abu Ridi and Hassan families have posted on social media, describing the siege as “completely isolating” and demanding safe living conditions.

Early Wednesday, Israeli security forces withdrew from a Jewish settler outpost in Qusra after clashes with extremist settlers, yet a dozen remain on site. Soldiers first saw settlers praying before arriving, a moment captured on video by residents.

The siege is part of a broader pattern of settler aggression in the area. The Palestinian village mayor says residents witnessed a “clear, sustained pattern” of targeting, adding that a mosque was set on fire last month and a new one was later burned with Hebrew graffiti.

Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) and Border Police used tear gas and stun grenades against the confrontation. Though they confiscated a tent used by settlers, they left other equipment untouched. The IDF criticized the illegal settlement, vowed disciplinary action against involved commanders, and committed to protecting the besieged households.

In the broader context, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator said violence in Nablus Governorate had reached unprecedented levels. He cited that 76 Palestinians, including 18 children, have been killed by either settlers or Israeli forces this year, while three Israelis suffered fatalities in related clashes.

The UN also reported that since January 2023, 127 Palestinian communities have faced displacement due to settler violence. Current figures show about 3,800 Palestinians, almost half children, displaced in 2026 because of demolitions, evictions, and direct attacks.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN has dismissed settlements as a hurdle to peace, insisting they persist on biblical and legal grounds, stating Israel will not move.