Terrorists control the West Bank

[Opinion. Just when you think Israel, its illegal colonists and its IDF have reached peak barbarity, they come up with something worse! When a PM calls it terror and ethnic cleansing, nobody listens.]

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

Former PM of Israel calls events ‘concerted and meticulous attempt at ethnic cleansing’ against Palestinians

Emma Graham-Harrison in Jerusalem

The Guardian: 13 Aug 2026

SOURCE: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/13/israeli-troops-force-families-from-homes-amid-settler-terror-campaign-in-west-bank

Israeli troops have forced two Palestinian families to leave their besieged West Bank homes, the day after a top Israeli commander personally promised he would end a violent settler campaign to drive them out.

Israeli soldiers also took over eight other homes in Qusra early on Thursday, telling the village’s mayor, Abdul Azim Wadi, that the buildings were needed for a days-long operation to remove the settlers. They later relinquished six. Settlers still roam the village.

Amid mounting international pressure over the siege, Maj Gen Avi Bluth, who commands all Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank, visited Qusra on Wednesday to meet the trapped Palestinians and committed to “evacuate” the settlers from the village.

Bluth’s troops left the militant [colonists], their bedding and other equipment. Soldiers retreated after a failed attempt to drive out the Israeli settler group with riot control techniques. The siege continued into a fifth day on Thursday, with the impact on the village only expanding after Bluth’s visit.

“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.”

He was allowed to return home in the afternoon, where he found Israeli soldiers had damaged a security camera system and stolen some equipment. They are still occupying the home of his neighbour Yousef Hassan, who is staying with Ridi.

Settlers are still patrolling outside in the area where 28-year-old Amir Moatasem Odeh was killed by a settler in March. Another attacker stabbed his father. No one has been arrested over the murder and assault.

His brother is an American citizen, and the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who is generally supportive of Israel’s settlement project, described the siege as a “horrific act of terror” carried out by Israeli terrorists.

On Thursday afternoon, Israeli soldiers left six homes they had taken over in the morning. The returning Palestinian families reported damage including a Qur’an with pages torn out and destroyed decorations.

Israel’s former prime minister Ehud Olmert said the siege was a “concerted and meticulous attempt at ethnic cleansing”, which left him disgusted and ashamed.

“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.”