Access to the homes has been blocked by settlers since Sunday Activists have attempted to deliver food and water to Palestinian families trapped inside their homes in Qusra, where Israeli settlers have maintained a siege for days. The families say their electricity and water supplies have been cut, while access to their homes remains blocked. Supplies left outside as families remain trapped Activists left aid near one of the homes after Israeli forces prevented them from delivering it directly to residents, according to two Palestinians inside. The Israeli military denied blocking the aid, saying Qusra had been designated a “closed military zone” and Israeli civilians could not enter. The IDF said civilians were nevertheless allowed to transfer supplies to Palestinian homes. It also said soldiers removed a tent erected by settlers near the site on Friday, a day after security forces had dispersed them. Settlers return as tensions surge The confrontation follows a week of escalating tensions. Settlers first blocked roads leading to the families’ gates on Sunday, cutting off power and water, while an earlier group of Israeli soldiers was filmed praying with them — an incident the military said would lead to disciplinary action. An attempt to remove the settlers on Wednesday triggered clashes with a larger crowd. Palestinian security footage reviewed by the BBC showed Israeli soldiers and border police using tear gas and stun grenades as they confronted settlers. Watch: How Israeli settlers are besieging Palestinian family homes in West Bank Palestinians ordered out as pressure mounts During Thursday’s operation, about a dozen Palestinian households were told to leave their properties, including members of two families living in the besieged homes. Qusra’s mayor said Israeli forces were subsequently using some vacated Palestinian houses as barracks. The military said soldiers had been instructed that residents would remain in their homes and that the operation was intended to protect them. West Bank displacement reaches critical levels The episode has renewed scrutiny of settler violence and the Israeli military’s ability to contain it. Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law, while Israel’s government has supported their expansion. The UN says 127 Palestinian communities have experienced full or partial displacement since January 2023, affecting more than 6,390 Palestinians. About 3,800 Palestinians have been displaced by settler violence, demolitions and evictions in 2026 alone, nearly half of them children. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1w1ylw0p3no
