Settlers Cut Off Food and Water to 7 West Bank Families as US Demands Netanyahu Act

The Israeli military has deployed troops to the occupied West Bank village of Qusra after militant settlers surrounded Palestinian homes for over a week, severing access to food, water, and electricity for several local families [218554][220738]. The United Nations delivered emergency supplies to the village after the settlers cut off basic necessities, with rights groups accusing the attackers of trying to force Palestinians off their land [220738].

Residents say the campaign is aimed at forcing them from their homes, and the Israeli army has ordered some Palestinian families to evacuate, with soldiers reportedly using seized houses as military barracks [218945][218554]. A Palestinian-American homeowner, Louai Abo Ridi, returned to Qusra from Ohio to confront settlers on his property, saying he fears for his safety amid reports that the Israeli army is turning a blind eye to settler violence [221905][221892].

The Israeli military has officially condemned the violence and intervened in the area, but Palestinians say soldiers have long ignored or even enabled such attacks, and the recent deployment has done little to deter the settlers [218554]. The village has seen repeated tensions between settlers and local Palestinians in recent months [218945].

In a rare move, Washington has sharply criticized the settlers’ actions and called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn the siege [219821][218554]. France has gone further, urging the arrest and prosecution of the settlers involved [219821]. The growing settler violence is adding political pressure on Netanyahu just weeks before Israel’s national election [219821].

The situation in Qusra highlights growing tensions in the region, where Palestinian communities face increasing pressure from settler violence and expanding Israeli authority [220738][218554]. Rights groups accuse the settlers of trying to force Palestinians out of the area, and critics warn that Israel’s plan to transfer law enforcement powers in the West Bank could further entrench its control over the territory [220738].