Key facts
- Over 900 physical obstacles are delaying aid to the West Bank, according to the UN.
- Three Palestinian families in Qusra village have been under siege by settlers for days.
- Militant settlers have attacked homes, blocked access to essential supplies, and assaulted ambulances.
- Amnesty International described the situation as 'state-backed settler terror' and 'forced displacement.'
- The US has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn militant settlers.
- Settler violence has displaced over 2,200 Palestinians in 2026, according to UN data.
Palestinian families in the village of Qusra, West Bank, have reported facing months of attacks by militant settlers, with some homes under siege for nearly a week. The UN reports over 900 physical obstacles are delaying aid to the region, impacting families in Qusra. Activists and aid workers have faced restrictions from Israeli forces in their attempts to deliver essential supplies.
Militant settlers are accused of mounting a concerted effort to seize more land, further encroaching on territory designated for a future Palestinian state. Residents describe tactics including spray-painting hate messages, throwing stones at homes, and violent assaults. One resident, Marmar Ouda, stated his nephew was killed by a settler five months prior, and despite filing complaints with Israeli police, he and his family have received no protection.
Israeli rights groups contend that settlers operate with near impunity under the current government, which supports settlement expansion. Ezra Brownstein of Rabbis for Human Rights noted settlers are "literally taking over houses." U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has condemned the settlers' actions. According to UN data, over 2,200 Palestinians have been displaced in 2026 due to settler violence and access restrictions.
The Israeli military has stated soldiers have been deployed to protect residents and maintain security, and that those supporting settlers would face disciplinary action. However, reports indicate settlers have re-erected tents after Israeli forces dismantled them, and some residents have been forced to flee their homes after violent incursions.