Key facts
- Israeli settlers have besieged homes in Qusra for 21 days.
- Israeli forces are preventing medical evacuations from a besieged house.
- New Israeli roadblocks have been erected around homes in Qusra, intensifying the siege.
- Palestinian men were arrested by Israeli soldiers while installing a fence at a property.
- Settlers attacked an ambulance attempting to reach a besieged house.
Israeli settlers have continued their siege of homes in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra for 21 days, with Israeli forces reportedly preventing medical evacuations and arresting Palestinians trapped inside. The situation has been exacerbated by the recent erection of three new Israeli roadblocks around the affected homes, raising fears of a more permanent blockade.
Mayor Abdul Azim Wadi stated that Israeli forces are also attempting to arrest Palestinians besieged within their homes in the Ras al-Ein area. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that settlers attacked an ambulance attempting to reach a besieged house. Loui Ridi, a Palestinian-American who returned to Qusra to defend his property, has been unable to leave his home since August 17 due to the presence of Israeli soldiers.
On August 4, settlers arrived at Loui Abu Ridi's home while contractors were installing a fence. According to Qusai Abu Ridi, Israeli soldiers arrested the workers while settlers trespassed on the property. Despite claims by the Israeli military of protecting residents and restoring order, videos and accounts suggest the village remains under threat from settlers with limited intervention from soldiers.
The new roadblocks, described as large yellow and orange metal bars on concrete blocks, have been placed at carefully selected locations, effectively encircling the homes on Ras al-Ain hill. This action disconnects the homes from the lower areas and renders a road connecting Qusra to neighboring villages ineffective. Wadi expressed concern that these gates will permanently prevent access to his land, which includes over 100 olive trees and a water well that settlers have reportedly taken over.