Key facts
- Activists tried to deliver water and food to Palestinian families besieged by Israeli settlers in Qusra.
- Two Palestinian families have been trapped in their homes since Sunday, with power and water supplies cut off.
- Israeli forces reportedly prevented activists from delivering aid directly to the residents.
- Settlers returned to the area and erected a tent, which was subsequently removed by Israeli forces.
- The IDF stated that Israeli civilians were not prevented from transferring aid, despite the area being a closed military zone.
Activists have attempted to deliver essential supplies to Palestinian families whose homes in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra have been besieged by Israeli settlers since Sunday. Two Palestinian families have been trapped in their homes, with their power and water supplies cut off.
According to two residents, Israeli forces prevented activists from delivering the aid directly, forcing them to leave supplies outside. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied this, stating that while the area was a "closed military zone" for Israeli civilians, they were not prevented from transferring aid. Settlers returned to the area on Friday, setting up a tent that was later removed by the IDF.
The operation to disperse settlers on Thursday reportedly led to about a dozen Palestinian households being told to leave their properties. The Mayor of Qusra, Abdul Azim Wadi, told the BBC that Israeli forces were using some of these vacated houses as barracks, a claim the Israeli military denied, stating soldiers were instructed to protect residents.
Past incidents have seen settlers forcing Palestinians out of their homes and seizing properties, with their stated aim being to empty areas of Palestinian residents. Settlements are considered illegal under international law, yet the Israeli government has been promoting their expansion. The UN reports that since January 2023, 127 Palestinian communities have experienced full or partial displacement, affecting over 6,390 Palestinians.