Key facts
- US Ambassador to Israel condemned the settler siege of Palestinian homes in Qusra as a 'horrific act of terror'.
- Settlers have besieged homes in Qusra for nearly a week, cutting off utilities and access.
- Israeli soldiers removed a tent erected by settlers and stated they were protecting local residents.
- The US is pressing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to publicly condemn the settler actions.
- The Israeli military is transferring enforcement powers regarding settlers to the border police.
The US ambassador to Israel has condemned the siege of Palestinian homes in the West Bank village of Qusra by Israeli settlers as a 'horrific act of terror.' Settlers have been besieging homes for nearly a week, cutting off utilities and preventing residents from leaving, actions that rights groups say are part of a concerted effort to seize more land. Footage showed settlers erecting a tent and throwing stones, before Israeli soldiers arrived to remove the tent and protect local residents, according to the Israeli military. The US has urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn the actions, particularly after learning a Palestinian-American's home was among those under siege. The Israeli Defence Minister announced a transfer of enforcement powers regarding settlers to the border police, stating it is not the IDF's role to handle civil enforcement issues in the West Bank.