Israeli settlers, backed by Israeli forces, have besieged a Palestinian home in the village of Qusra, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank. According to Al Jazeera correspondents, at least four Palestinians are trapped inside the house while settlers have set fire to nearby land.
Coordinated efforts are underway to allow ambulances to reach the area and evacuate one injured person. Qusra has suffered an escalating campaign of settler violence over the past month.
In July, settlers set fire to a mosque in the village. Since August 9, they have besieged three Palestinian homes in the Ras al-Ain area, cutting off water, electricity, and other supplies.
Loui Abu Raideh, a resident trapped in his home, said: "We are not allowed to freely enter or leave our homes; no one is allowed to bring us food or visit from relatives or friends." He said residents have to coordinate with the Qusra mayor to receive food and supplies, and it can take three to four days for approval.
Israeli forces have declared the area a closed military zone and restricted Palestinian movement, placing a gate at the main entrance to Qusra. Palestinians entering the village are forced to use alternative routes but are often blocked by Israeli forces.
On Wednesday, the Israeli military set up three new checkpoints at positions surrounding the Ras al-Ain hilltop, isolating the homes from the area below.
Raideh described the feeling of being trapped as "a nightmare... 21 days, we can't even sleep, we stay up at night watching security cameras because the settlers could attack at any time."
Settler attacks – backed by the Israeli military – on Palestinian homes, businesses, and farmland across the West Bank have been common for decades as illegal settlements expand on the territory. The attacks have increased in intensity and frequency since Israel launched its genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza in October 2023, following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.
