Israeli troops launched a large-scale operation on August 13 in the West Bank village of Qusra, ordering some Palestinian families to evacuate their homes amid a tense standoff with settlers [1, 2]. Hundreds of soldiers took control of 16 homes and dismantled two illegal settler outposts near the village in the Jabal Ras al-Ain area [2].
The military action followed a siege that began on August 9, when a group of Israeli settlers surrounded three Palestinian homes, including one owned by Palestinian-American Loui Ridi [3, 2]. Settlers often numbered several dozen, threw stones, attempted to bring down a stone wall, and blocked residents from leaving as supplies dwindled [3]. Yasser Ahmad, a resident of a neighboring village, said, "No one is allowed to enter. Even food and water are prohibited from reaching those besieged" [3]. Water and electricity to Palestinian homes in Qusra were cut off during the siege and eviction [3, 2].
Israeli forces detained one Israeli settler and evacuated seven Palestinian homes to station troops [3, 2]. While settlers were removed from the outposts, village council chairman Abdel Azim Wadi said settlers still remained elsewhere in Qusra and warned, "We honestly doubt that the army will leave the area without telling residents they can return to their homes, allowing settlers to take control of them" [3, 2].
The military allowed displaced families to move to other houses within the area but restricted their ability to leave the vicinity near Nablus [3, 2]. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee issued unusually critical remarks on the incident despite typically supporting settler movements [3].
The operation aimed to dismantle the settler outpost established near Qusra to relieve the siege and restore military control over the area [2]. Further developments on the status of the evicted Palestinian families and the presence of settlers in Qusra are expected in the coming days.
