New tensions have erupted in the Palestinian village of Qusra, located in the northern part of the occupied West Bank. Since early August, Israeli settlers have blocked residents’ access to the village and laid siege to homes — sparking domestic backlash within Israel and widespread international condemnation.
Settlers Surround Home, Trap Seven Inside
According to both the Israeli military and Yusuf Abdul Karim Hassan, a resident of Qusra near Nablus, today’s violence marked nearly three weeks of escalating unrest. Five villagers were carrying out routine work inside a home when a group of Israeli settlers approached. The settlers later returned with dozens of others, surrounding the house and hurling stones at those inside, Hassan said.
Israeli security forces — already deployed across the area — remained present during the incident. Footage captured today by Agence France-Presse shows dozens of Israeli troops stationed throughout the village. Eyewitnesses who spoke with Reuters described how dozens of masked Israeli settlers launched coordinated attacks on homes around Qusra — the largest such assault since an earlier settler siege earlier this month that drew sharp global criticism.
Military Response and Ongoing Siege
The Israeli army, which has occupied the West Bank since 1967, stated that its soldiers and border police rushed to the scene after receiving reports of ‘Israeli rioters’ arriving in the area and engaging in violent clashes — including stone-throwing against Palestinians and other civilians.
Upon arrival, security forces reportedly found dozens of settlers barricaded inside a Palestinian home where seven local residents remained trapped. Israeli police confirmed in a statement that they are investigating the incident and working to remove the settlers from the property. Authorities also seized vehicles suspected of having been used to transport the settlers to Qusra — evidence that will be used in the ongoing investigation.
The police noted they had received information about Palestinian injuries but provided no further details. Meanwhile, reports from local sources describe settlers not only surrounding homes but also burning olive trees and damaging property — raising urgent questions about accountability and international response.
This latest episode is part of a broader, four-week military siege targeting three homes in Qusra — a situation increasingly drawing attention from human rights organizations and diplomatic channels alike.