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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestinians-west-bank-village-remain-under-israeli-settler-siege-sixth-day">middleeasteye.net</a>
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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Palestinians in West Bank village remain under Israeli settler siege for sixth day</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Fayha Shalash</div>
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<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time">August 15, 2026</div>
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<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><div><img src="cid:ii_msummdkj0" alt="image.png" width="558" height="314"><br><p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/palestine" target="_blank">
<font size="1">Israeli settlers gather in front of Palestinian houses in the village of
Qusra, south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, on 12 August 2026
(Zain Jaafar/AFP) </font></a></p><p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/palestine" target="_blank">Palestinian </a>families in the <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/occupation" target="_blank">occupied</a> West Bank village of Qusra have remained under siege by <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank">Israeli</a> settlers for a sixth day, despite an Israeli army operation that was supposedly launched to remove the settlers.</p>
<p>Israeli activists attempting to deliver food to the families on
Friday were stopped by Israeli forces, according to local media reports.</p>
<p>The siege began on Sunday, when a group of settlers surrounded three
homes on a hilltop in Qusra, near Nablus. They erected tents at the
entrances in what residents said appeared to be an attempt to force the
families out and take control of their homes.</p>
<p>Residents said the settlers had cut off water and electricity to some
of the properties, leaving families, including children, trapped inside
and struggling to obtain food and medicine.</p>
<p>When the families called the Israeli army for help, soldiers arrived but, according to <a href="https://x.com/JDiamond1/status/2087915371533623542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">footage</a> online, were seen drinking and praying with the settlers rather than removing them.</p><p>After the incident attracted international attention, the Israeli
army said it had launched an operation to remove the settlers and
declared the village a closed military zone.</p>
<p>But the settlers have not been removed, and no arrests have been reported.</p>
<p>Instead, Israeli forces deployed large numbers of troops to the
village, forcing about 20 Palestinian families from their homes and
taking over several properties, which were converted into military
positions.</p>
<p>The army said the deployment was intended to prevent clashes between Palestinian residents and settlers.</p>
<p>Israeli forces later withdrew from some of the homes, allowing families to return.</p>
<h3>Constant attacks </h3>
<p>Qusay Abu Rida, who is sheltering in one of the besieged homes, said settlers had repeatedly targeted the property for months.</p>
<p>The house was built in 2023 and belongs to his brother, who lives in
the United States. During previous attacks, settlers broke through the
gate, damaged security cameras and stole belongings from outside the
house.</p>
<p>This situation forced Abu Rida and his family to move into the house
four months ago to protect it. During this time, they have faced
numerous forms of harassment aimed at forcing them to leave.</p>
<p>\u201cThey would constantly come into the yard, shouting and vandalising
things. Then, on Sunday, they came and erected a tent directly in front
of the house, cutting off our electricity and water,\u201d he told Middle
East Eye.</p>
<div>
<p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/settlers-are-control-how-west-bank-being-ethnically-cleansed" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/read_more/public/images-story/palestine-west-bank-settler-attacks-2026-hazem-bader-afp.jpg.webp?itok=jzLq8joW" width="400" height="250" alt="" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img">
</a></p><p>'The settlers are in control': How the West Bank is being ethnically cleansed</p>
<p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/settlers-are-control-how-west-bank-being-ethnically-cleansed" target="_blank">Read More »</a>
</p></div>
<p>Two other homes have also been surrounded by settlers.</p>
<p>According to Abu Rida, the soldiers in the area have made no real
attempt to remove the settlers. Instead, they placed further
restrictions on the besieged families.</p>
<p>\u201cThe soldiers forcibly evicted us from my house and my neighbour
Yousef\u2019s house and moved us to his brother Rizq\u2019s house. They cut off
all our essential supplies and prevented us from leaving, even to
collect necessities from our homes,\u201d he said.</p>
<p>On Thursday evening, Israeli forces withdrew from Abu Rida\u2019s home after causing damage inside. </p>
<p>Security-camera footage documenting the settlers' siege was also
reportedly destroyed by the soldiers, who dismantled the settlers\u2019 tent
but remained in the area.</p>
<p>The tents have since been erected again. </p>
<p>Abu Rida said the treatment of the families echoed what happened to
the al-Tubasi family in nearby Jalud last month, where settlers
repeatedly attacked the family home until its residents were forced to
leave.</p>
<p>The settlers then took control of the property, he said, in full view of Israeli forces.</p>
<h3>Homes left damaged</h3>
<p>On Thursday morning, more than 1,000 Israeli soldiers entered Qusra, according to local media reports.</p>
<p>Abdul-Azim Wadi, head of the village council, said the military
liaison had informed local authorities that troops intended to seize 16
homes. In the end, eight were taken after their residents were ordered
out.</p>
<p>Wadi said the army did not explain the seizures, telling residents simply: \u201cLeave immediately. This house is under our control.\u201d</p>
<p>Some of the seized properties were later vacated by the soldiers, but residents returned to find extensive damage.</p>
<p>\u201cIn one house, they stole $1,500 and destroyed all the furniture,\u201d Wadi told MEE.</p>
<p>\u201cIn another, they stole some of the contents.\u201d </p>
<p>He said each home was entered by dozens of soldiers. In some properties, troops wrote \u201cWe will return\u201d on the walls.</p>
<h3>Fears of wider control </h3>
<p>The Ras al-Ain area, where the Abu Rida and Hassan family homes are
located, has faced a series of settler attacks since December. Residents
say the attacks are aimed at forcing them from their homes and taking
control of the land.</p>
<p>Hani Odeh, an activist in Qusra, said the situation was
\u201cheartbreaking\u201d, with settlers and soldiers taking turns putting
pressure on residents to leave.</p>
<p>Northern Qusra is now the only part of the village where residents
can expand, he said. The other three areas have been taken over by
Israeli forces and settlers, with Palestinians barred from accessing
them.</p>
<p>\u201cNow they even want to control the northern part because it overlooks
five villages south of Nablus, including Jalud and Awarta,\u201d Odeh said. </p>
<p>\u201cIt is classified as Area B, and the nearest settlement activity was at least 15km away.\u201d</p>
<p>He said the encroachment began months ago, when a settler started
grazing livestock in the area. Other settlers later joined him and began
attacking Palestinian homes, apparently seeking to drive residents out.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>'The soldiers do not have the authority to remove the settlers; they only oppress us'</p>
<p>- <em>Hani Odeh, Qusra-based activist </em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>During the siege of the three homes, settlers and soldiers prevented
supplies from reaching those trapped inside, Odeh said. Residents even
tried to bring food in an ambulance, but soldiers stopped and turned it
back.</p>
<p>\u201cThis whole situation is worrying all the residents of Qusra,\u201d he
said. \u201cWe don\u2019t know where the settlers will go next after attacking
homes in an area classified as Area B. The soldiers do not have the
authority to remove the settlers; they only oppress us.\u201d</p>
<p>Under the 1995 Oslo Accords, the West Bank was divided into Areas A, B
and C as a temporary administrative arrangement that remains in place. </p>
<p>Area A is under full Palestinian Authority control for civil
administration and internal security and includes major Palestinian
cities.</p>
<p>Area B is under Palestinian civil administration, while security
responsibilities are shared with Israel. It includes smaller towns and
rural villages.</p>
<p>Despite the accords, Israeli forces have operated inside Areas A and B for years. </p>
<p>Area C, which accounts for about 60 percent of the West Bank, is under full Israeli civil and security control. </p>
<p>Most Israeli settlements and military bases have traditionally been
located in Area C, built on Palestinian land. In recent years, however,
settlers have increasingly expanded their attacks and sought to
establish a presence in Area B.</p>
<h3>Settler violence </h3>
<p>Qusra has a long history of settler attacks, and the latest incidents
come amid a sharp rise in violence across the occupied West Bank.</p>
<p>The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<a href="https://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-situation-report-23-july-2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">Ocha</a>)
said it had documented more than 1,330 settler attacks resulting in
casualties or property damage across 250 Palestinian communities since
the beginning of 2026, as of 20 July. </p>
<p>The incidents amounted to more than six attacks a day. </p>
<p>At least 18 people have been killed and 880 more wounded during settler attacks in 2026. </p>
<p>More than 2,300 Palestinians had also been displaced in 2026 as a
result of settler attacks and related access restrictions, according to
Ocha. </p>
<p>Around 700,000 Israeli settlers live in the occupied West Bank and
East Jerusalem across roughly 300 settlements and outposts. The
settlements are regarded as illegal under international law, according
to the International Court of Justice.</p>
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