Israeli settlers besieged Palestinian families in the West Bank village of Qusra for four days, cutting water and electricity and blocking access to food and medicine, according to trapped residents and international monitors [3][9][16]. One of the besieged homes belongs to a US citizen [1][17]. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the settlers' actions a "horrific act of terror" and said Israeli security forces intervened at the request of the United States [5][6]. The Israeli military stated it dismantled two illegal outposts, detained one Israeli, and instructed troops that Qusra residents would remain in their homes [4][6][11].
Besieged residents described being trapped without basic necessities. Aysha Hassan said settlers tried to break the gate, threw stones, and cursed at the family, leaving them "dying of fear" [3]. She stated that no one could bring food or supplies because the area was sealed off by the army [5][7]. Qusay Abu Rida said the family received no food and no medicine, and that after the army withdrew, settlers remained at their doorstep [8]. The Guardian reported that medical care for a sick child was blocked during the siege [9]. Loai Ridi, an American-Palestinian whose brother was trapped in the home, said supplies would last only two to three more days and that leaving would mean settlers take over the home immediately [17][24].
The Israeli military condemned the settlers' actions as "illegal, reprehensible, and unacceptable" and declared the area a closed military zone [3][8]. Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said the army was acting against the settlers and that those responsible would be arrested and prosecuted [18]. The IDF stated that soldiers were deployed to protect residents and maintain security, and that soldiers would not operate inside the Palestinian family's home near the dismantled tent [4].
Local officials and residents accused the Israeli military of staging its response rather than genuinely protecting the families. Abdul Kareem Hassan, a Qusra resident, called the army's operation a "charade," saying that removing 20 settlers would take less than an hour if the army were serious [2]. Qusra Mayor Abdel Azim Wadi said soldiers were seen praying, barbecuing, and dancing with the settlers, and were "not very interested in helping the besieged families" [2]. Ajith Sunghay, head of the UN office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, stated that the IDF is "either unable or unwilling to protect Palestinian communities" or is "in collusion with the Israeli settlers" [16]. The Israeli rights group Yesh Din urgently appealed to the head of the military's Central Command to protect the residents and hold the settlers accountable [3][32].
Huckabee, who has been a supporter of West Bank settlements, called the perpetrators "Israeli terrorists" and said their actions were "criminal" and "disgusting" [6][7][25]. He later clarified that "settlers" are not the problem but rather a "very small minority" of "unsettlers" [29]. Oded Revivi, former head of the Efrat settlement council, said that if "a true friend like Huckabee has to bang on the table," the settlement movement needs to ask how it lost its way and fix it immediately [5]. Yisrael Ganz, chair of the umbrella council for West Bank settlements, called the events in Qusra "severe" and "not our way" [29].
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that the settlers' "criminal actions," supported or acquiesced to by Israel, are "clearly aimed at forcing" Palestinian families "to leave their homes and their land" [2][6][16]. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates described the settlers' actions as "systematic assaults that can only be described as terroristic" and accused Israel of using settlers as a tool for forced displacement and annexation [2][7]. Yuli Novak, executive director of B'Tselem, said the Qusra incident is not isolated and that settler militias backed by the Israeli military are expanding attacks to seize land and force families out [9][13]. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called the siege "a concerted and meticulous attempt at ethnic cleansing" and "crimes against humanity" actively supported by the Israeli government [20]. Dozens of Israelis from the country's security, political, and cultural elite threatened legal action against the government over its failure to tackle what they called "Jewish terrorism" [9].
UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov told the Security Council that settler violence has reached "unprecedented levels," with over 1,430 incidents documented this year [3][15]. Alakbarov warned that interconnected steps are reshaping the West Bank, weakening Palestinian governance and advancing de facto annexation [24]. EU Foreign Policy Spokesperson Anitta Hipper called on Israel to take "concrete action to prevent settler violence" [6]. Aisha Mansour, West Bank Director of Medical Aid for Palestinians, said the Qusra attack is part of a "deliberate campaign of ethnic cleansing" and called on the UK government to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements [14].
Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon dismissed the idea that settlements are an obstacle to peace, stating that Israel has "biblical, historic, and legal rights" to the land and that "we are not going anywhere" [3][18]. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said settler attacks and the scenes in Qusra are "costing Israel and its friends" [26]. Israeli opposition leader and former general Gadi Eisenkot accused the government of "deliberate chaos" and reckless policy [40]. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he admires settlers building outposts but that some among them "really need to be stopped" [40].
The Israeli military deployed additional forces to Qusra, with Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir ordering a battalion of infantry reservists back from leave to reinforce troops in the West Bank [9]. Mayor Wadi said the village was declared a closed military zone and that Israeli forces were using vacated Palestinian houses as barracks [18]. Abu Rida said the house was attacked again overnight and that settlers remained in the area hiding from the army [18][30]. Residents stated they would not leave their homes despite the siege, with Aisha Abu Rida vowing to remain "even if we are martyred" [24].