JERUSALEM — U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned Israeli settlers who have besieged Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra, calling the actions criminal and saying U.S. pressure had helped prompt Israeli forces to intervene.
The siege began over the weekend when settlers blocked access to three Palestinian homes on the outskirts of Qusra, erected a tent outside and prevented residents from entering or leaving, according to residents and Reuters reporting. Water and electricity were also cut, leaving about 15 Palestinians, including two children, trapped inside their homes, the United Nations said.
Huckabee said Israeli military and police forces had gone to the area at the request of the U.S. embassy to remove what he called “Israeli terrorists,” adding that the actions against one family’s home were “criminal.” He also described the incident as a “horrific act of terror.”
Israeli troops took positions inside or near Palestinian homes on Thursday as authorities sought to end the standoff. The Israeli military said soldiers had been deployed to protect residents and maintain security, and that troops had been instructed to allow Qusra residents to remain in their homes.
The military also said it had dismantled two illegal settler outposts in Qusra and a nearby village and detained one Israeli. It had earlier declared Qusra a closed military zone after settlers returned to the area despite an initial intervention by troops.
Residents said settlers had continued to return and had thrown stones at homes, damaged property and restricted movement. Loui Ridi, a Palestinian American from Ohio whose family home is among those affected, told Reuters that his relatives needed protection and supplies.
The military said it had deployed additional forces to carry out defensive missions and patrols. It also said it was taking disciplinary action against personnel shown in video participating in a prayer with settlers at a tent in the area.
The confrontation comes amid rising settler violence in the West Bank. The U.N. humanitarian office said in April that Qusra had recorded more settler attacks than any other West Bank community in 2026.
By Thursday evening, Israeli forces remained in Qusra and residents said the situation had not been fully resolved. The military indicated that operations in the area could continue through the weekend.
