Israeli Settlers Set Up Tent Outside Palestinian Home in Qusra Amid Ongoing Siege

Israeli settlers erected a tent outside a Palestinian family’s home in the West Bank village of Qusra on Friday, footage showed, before soldiers arrived and dismantled it. The move is part of a nearly week-long siege that Palestinians say is meant to push them off their land.

US Pressure Grows Over Siege

The standoff has drawn attention from Washington, with White House officials reportedly urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak out against it after learning a Palestinian-American’s home was among those targeted. Netanyahu has not addressed the situation publicly. Footage obtained by Reuters showed several settlers near the tent, with one throwing stones toward the village before army vehicles arrived.

Residents Cut Off From Power and Water

Settlers reportedly blocked roads leading to three homes and shut off electricity and water earlier in the week, trapping roughly 15 Palestinians, including two children, according to the United Nations. Video also showed Israeli soldiers joining settlers in prayer, prompting the military to announce disciplinary steps against those involved.

Enforcement Authority Shifts to Border Police

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Friday he had ordered enforcement responsibilities over settlers transferred to the border police, arguing the military isn’t equipped to handle civilian matters in the territory. Palestinians and rights groups argue this distinction has allowed settler expansion to continue unchecked, with roughly 500,000 settlers now living among three million Palestinians across the West Bank’s 146 settlements and 390 outposts.

Rights monitors say the pressure on Qusra and the neighboring village of Jalud reflects a broader push to connect nearby outposts with larger settlements to the west.