Israeli troops force families from homes amid settler terror campaign in West Bank

Israeli Troops Force Families from West Bank Homes Amid Settler Violence

Wanderstayfinder.com – Israeli troops force families from homes in Qusra, a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank, as tensions escalate between military forces and settlers over residential properties. The situation worsened Thursday when Israeli troops compelled two families to abandon their residences, contradicting a senior commander’s promise to stop the campaign against local residents.

During early Thursday morning operations, Israeli soldiers seized eight additional homes in Qusra. Village mayor Abdul Azim Wadi learned the properties were needed for an extended military operation targeting the settler presence. Troops returned six homes by afternoon, though settlers continued their patrols through village streets.

Week-Long Siege Disrupts Daily Life

Qusra’s residents faced their fifth day of siege beginning Sunday, when Israeli settlers and soldiers established a tent blocking three perimeter homes. The blockade disrupted water and electricity supplies while preventing medical access for a critically ill toddler. International observers closely monitored the developing crisis.

Maj Gen Avi Bluth, commander of Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, visited Qusra Wednesday to speak directly with trapped families. He promised to remove settlers from the village, and troops partially honored this commitment by clearing the blocking tent. However, militants remained with their belongings. An attempt to displace settlers using riot control methods failed, prompting temporary military withdrawal.

“The army arrived at around 10am and asked us to evacuate the houses because of a military operation in the area that would last for three days. We refused to leave,” said Qusai Ridi, one of the besieged Palestinians. “The army then moved us all into one house.”

Ridi returned to his home Thursday afternoon, finding Israeli soldiers had damaged security cameras and confiscated equipment. His neighbor Yousef Hassan’s residence remained occupied, forcing Hassan to stay with Ridi’s family.

Settler Violence and Political Response

The Qusra crisis reflects broader patterns of settler violence across the West Bank. Settlers continue patrolling the area where 28-year-old Amir Moatasem Odeh died following a settler attack in March. His father suffered a stabbing during the same incident, with no arrests made for either crime.

“I am afraid and do not trust that the army will actually evacuate the settlers. But I sincerely hope they do,” Ridi said, mentioning his brother’s American citizenship. This connection attracted international attention, with US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee—normally supportive of settlement expansion—describing the siege as a “horrific act of terror” by Israeli terrorists.

Israeli former prime minister Ehud Olmert criticized the siege as a “concerted and meticulous attempt at ethnic cleansing,” voicing both disgust and shame at government handling of the situation.

“These are crimes against humanity which are actively supported by the Israeli government and are assisted by the indifference and total lack of action by the IDF and the Israeli police. It’s unforgettable and unforgivable.”

The military’s official stance appeared inconsistent with ground operations. An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed soldiers received orders not to displace Qusra’s Palestinian residents and would avoid operations inside besieged homes. However, the spokesperson could not explain why these directives were being violated.

IDF Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir ordered a battalion of infantry reservists to return from leave, strengthening military presence in the West Bank. Domestic critics suggested the Qusra problem stemmed from insufficient political will rather than inadequate forces.

“Yesterday’s events in Qusra illustrate the impotence of the IDF, the police, the GSS [Shin Bet] and other security organizations in the face of a group of bullies,” commentator Avi Ashkenazi wrote in Ma’ariv. “Instead of bringing a police van [and] arresting the criminals.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long has the siege in Qusra lasted? A: The siege began on Sunday and has now entered its fifth day, with residents facing disrupted utilities and limited movement.

Q: What is the Israeli military’s official position on the siege? A: Military spokespersons state soldiers received orders not to displace Qusra residents and would avoid operations inside besieged homes, though these orders appear to be violated on the ground.

Q: How many homes were affected during the Thursday operations? A: Israeli soldiers initially seized eight homes in Qusra during early Thursday morning operations, though six were returned to their occupants by afternoon.

Q: What international attention has the siege received? A: US Ambassador Mike Huckabee described the siege as a “horrific act of terror,” while Israeli former prime minister Ehud Olmert called it an attempt at ethnic cleansing.