Five Days Under Siege: Settlers Trap Palestinian Families in West Bank Village of Qusra

Five Days Under Siege: Settlers Trap Palestinian Families, Including US Citizens, in West Bank Village of Qusra

QUSRA, Occupied West Bank — For five consecutive days, Israeli settlers have surrounded three Palestinian homes in the Ras al-Ayn area of this village south of Nablus, trapping roughly 15 Palestinians—including two children—inside with restricted access to water, electricity, and food. Among those besieged is a Palestinian-American family, a fact that has drawn an unusually sharp rebuke from the US ambassador to Israel and triggered diplomatic reactions from France and Italy.

The siege, which began on Sunday, has seen settlers erect structures outside the properties, preventing residents from moving freely. Israeli forces declared the area a closed military zone and attempted to remove the settlers on Wednesday. That effort initially failed after the settlers resisted and supporters arrived at the site. Although troops later dismantled some structures, residents said the siege continued. Video footage also appeared to show Israeli soldiers praying alongside settlers, prompting the military to announce disciplinary measures against personnel involved.

US Ambassador Breaks Ranks with Blunt Condemnation

In a series of posts on X on Thursday, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee—who has previously described himself as a Zionist—used language rarely heard from American officials regarding settler violence. He branded the perpetrators "Israeli terrorists" and described their actions as a "horrific act of terror" and "thuggish behaviour."

"The US Embassy has been VERY involved and the IDF and Israel Police have gone at our request to remove the Israeli terrorists doing this," Huckabee wrote. "The actions of those doing this to this family's home is criminal."

Huckabee's comments came in response to social media speculation over Washington failing to protect yet another American citizen terrorised by Israeli settlers. He pushed back on suggestions that the White House had not intervened, writing: "The WH hasn't 'intervened' because we have kept DC apprised of the situation already."

The ambassador's strong words mark a notable departure from his usual posture. Huckabee has long been a staunch supporter of Israeli policies in the occupied territories, making his explicit reference to "Israeli terrorists" all the more striking. Whether this rhetoric translates into concrete action on the ground remains to be seen, as the siege was reportedly still ongoing as of Friday.

France and Italy Enter the Fray

The international dimension of the Qusra siege expanded on Friday when France issued a statement condemning the settler occupation of the homes "in the strongest possible terms." The French Foreign Ministry called on Israeli authorities "to arrest and bring to justice the perpetrators of these acts" and reiterated that Israel is obligated under international law to protect the Palestinian civilian population.

"As acts of violence committed by settlers multiply in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, France calls on the Israeli authorities to take all necessary measures to protect the Palestinian civilian population, as they are obligated to do under international law," the ministry said. France also reiterated "its condemnation of Israeli settlement policy," warning that it "threatens the two-state solution and exacerbates tensions on the ground."

Meanwhile, Italy's Foreign Ministry confirmed that five Italian nationals—four women and one man—were also inside the isolated homes in Qusra. The ministry said it was closely monitoring the situation, coordinating with its consulate in Jerusalem, its embassy in Tel Aviv, and its crisis unit. The Italian nationals were reportedly among those trapped by the siege, though further details about their circumstances were not immediately available.

A Pattern of Impunity for Attacks on Palestinian-Americans

The Qusra siege comes against a grim backdrop of attacks in which Palestinian-Americans have found that US citizenship offers little protection from Israeli settler and military violence. The record is extensive and marked by a consistent lack of accountability.

In July 2025, 20-year-old Palestinian-American Sayfollah "Saif" Musallet, whose family is based in Florida, was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in Al-Mazraa Al-Sharqiya. His family demanded a US investigation and accountability for those responsible. Huckabee subsequently called for an investigation into the killing, which he described as a criminal and terrorist act.

In February of this year, 19-year-old Palestinian-American Nasrallah Abu Siyam was shot and beaten during a settler attack on the village of Mukhmas, north-east of Jerusalem. Armed settlers stormed the community alongside Israeli soldiers, fired on Palestinians, and stole hundreds of sheep and goats. Abu Siyam later died after an ambulance trying to reach him was delayed at an Israeli checkpoint. He was at least the seventh American citizen killed by Israeli settlers or soldiers in the occupied West Bank since October 2023 without any accountability.

Palestinian-Americans have also survived potentially lethal settler attacks. In June, 92-year-old US citizen Yasser Rashid was assaulted by Israeli settlers who sprayed him with a flammable liquid through a mosque window in Deir Dibwan and set it alight. Rashid escaped the flames, while settlers attacked homes, vehicles, and farmland in the town, where around 70 per cent of residents hold US citizenship.

The lack of accountability extends beyond settler violence. Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot dead while covering an Israeli military raid in Jenin in May 2022. Unlike Musallet and Abu Siyam, Abu Akleh was killed during an Israeli army operation, not a settler attack. Israel later acknowledged a "high possibility" that one of its soldiers fired the fatal shot. No one has been held accountable.

Settler Violence Intensifies Since October 2023

The Qusra siege is unfolding amid a dramatic escalation in settler violence across the occupied West Bank since Israel launched its war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023. Attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their property have intensified significantly, prompting Palestinian and international warnings over the growing seizure of land and homes and the displacement of residents.

In Qusra, a village that has long been a flashpoint for settler violence due to its proximity to illegal outposts and settlements, residents say the current siege represents a new level of organised intimidation. The erection of structures outside the homes suggests an attempt at permanent seizure, a pattern seen elsewhere in the West Bank where settler outposts gradually expand into established presences.

Local activists and international solidarity workers have attempted to deliver basic supplies to the besieged families, but have faced obstacles due to the closed military zone designation. The declaration of a closed military zone is a tactic frequently used by Israeli forces to restrict access to areas where settler violence is occurring, effectively shielding the perpetrators from outside scrutiny.

Diplomatic Words, Questionable Action

The international reactions to the Qusra siege raise important questions about the gap between diplomatic condemnation and meaningful action. While Huckabee's statement was unusually forceful, the US has consistently failed to leverage its considerable influence over Israel to secure accountability for attacks on American citizens in the occupied territories.

France's call for Israel to "arrest and bring to justice the perpetrators" echoes longstanding international positions, but similar calls following previous incidents have gone unheeded. Italy's monitoring of the situation, while significant given the presence of its nationals, has yet to produce any visible results on the ground.

For the families trapped in their homes in Qusra, the diplomatic statements offer little immediate relief. As of Friday, the siege was reportedly still in place, with residents continuing to face restricted access to essential supplies. The presence of American, Italian, and other foreign nationals among the besieged has brought international attention, but whether that attention translates into protection remains an open question.

The broader context is one of accelerating land seizure and displacement across the West Bank. Since October 2023, settler attacks have become more frequent and more violent, often carried out with the apparent acquiescence or active support of Israeli forces. The Qusra siege, with its international dimensions and the involvement of American and Italian citizens, may prove to be a test case for whether diplomatic pressure can alter the dynamics on the ground.

For now, the residents of Qusra remain trapped, their fate caught between the settlers who surround their homes and the international community that condemns the siege but has yet to stop it. The words of condemnation are welcome, but as the families inside those three homes know all too well, words do not restore water, electricity, or the freedom to move without fear.

By Fatima Al-Rashid, Staff Writer

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Reporting is based on sources cited in the article.