Key facts
- Louai Abu Ridi, a Palestinian-American, returned to his home in Qusra, West Bank, which had been besieged by Israeli settlers.
- Settlers surrounded the property, set up tents, and attempted to force residents out.
- Abu Ridi expressed frustration with the lack of effective action from US officials and the Israeli military.
- He arrived at his home carrying an American flag while settlers remained in the vicinity.
Louai Abu Ridi, a Palestinian-American living in Ohio, has returned to his ancestral home in the occupied West Bank town of Qusra to defend it against Israeli settlers who have been besieging the property. Abu Ridi had been monitoring security footage of settlers attacking his home and attempting to force residents out by setting up tents around the property.
Frustrated by the lack of action from US officials and the Israeli military, Abu Ridi decided to travel to Qusra to support his brother and nephew, who have been inside the house. He stated his determination to protect the home and prevent settlers from taking it over. The situation in Qusra is part of a broader increase in settler violence in the West Bank since October 2023, with thousands of Palestinians forcibly displaced due to such attacks.
Upon his arrival, Abu Ridi was escorted to his home by the Israeli military. He noted that soldiers appeared to be interacting amicably with settlers rather than arresting them, and he expressed fear for his safety and that of his family. The village of Qusra is located southeast of Nablus, and the neighborhood where Abu Ridi's home is situated has been declared a closed military zone by Israel.