The Siege in the Village of Qusra
Tensions began on Sunday, August 9, 2026, when Israeli settlers blocked access to three Palestinian homes in the town of Qusra, located about 16 kilometers from the city of Nablus. The Abu Ridi and Hassan families, comprising 16 people in the three besieged houses, reported that their water and electricity were cut off, and their food supplies quickly ran out.
According to reports from BBC Mundo, the settlers knocked down a wall in front of the Abu Ridi family home and used the stones to block the road, leaving seven people, including two girls, trapped inside. Qusay Abu Ridi posted on social media that the situation was critical and that they were only asking for the right to live safely and with dignity on their own land.
An Unusual Condemnation from Washington
On Thursday, August 13, 2026, the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, issued a strong condemnation via the social network X. Huckabee, historically an ally of the settler movement, called the siege a "horrific act of terror", as reported by Cadena 3.
The owner of one of the homes, Lou Ridi, who resides in Ohio, United States, said his 48-year-old brother and teenage nephew had been evacuated by the Israeli army on Thursday morning. Ridi said the settlers had been harassing the home for months, cutting services and throwing stones, and stated: "We are prisoners in our own home, hostages in our own home."
Israeli Army Intervention and Evacuation
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reinforced their presence in the area after several days of growing tension. On Wednesday, August 12, the head of the Central Command, Major General Avi Bluth, arrived at the scene, leading to clashes between soldiers, border police, and the crowd of settlers, who were dispersed with tear gas and stun grenades.
According to Infobae, on Thursday, August 13, the army evacuated 7 Palestinian homes in an operation to remove the settlers. Two illegal outposts were dismantled in Qusra and the nearby village of Yalud. Additionally, an Israeli civilian linked to the events was detained.
The army announced it would take disciplinary measures against security personnel who were seen praying and taking selfies with the settlers during the first days of the siege, an incident captured by Palestinian security cameras.
Context: What is Area B?
The village of Qusra is located in Area B of the West Bank. Under the 1995 Oslo Accords, this area is under Palestinian administrative control but Israeli security control. Settlements and outposts established by settlers in these areas are considered illegal under international law, although the Israeli government disputes this.
An outpost differs from a conventional settlement in that it is established without official authorization from the Israeli government, although often with support from officials and state entities, as detailed by human rights organizations such as Yesh Din.
The Regional Landscape and Hope for Peace
The conflict in Qusra is not an isolated case. The UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Ramiz Alakbarov, told the Security Council that the West Bank is on the brink of collapse. According to UN figures, in 2026, 76 Palestinians (including 18 children) have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers, and since January 2023, 127 Palestinian communities have suffered total or partial displacement.
The portal Aurora Israel highlighted that attacks by extremist settlers in the region increased by 63% during 2026, including attacks on Israeli security forces.