Israeli troops ordered Palestinian families to leave a number of homes in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra during an operation to remove Israeli settlers who had besieged nearby houses, according to the village mayor and residents.
Qusra Mayor Abdel Azim Wadi said about a dozen households had been affected after the area was declared a closed military zone. He said Israeli forces were using some of the vacated Palestinian homes as military barracks.
The Israeli military said the purpose of its operation was to protect residents. The Israel Defense Forces said it had dismantled two illegal outposts, detained one Israeli and confiscated equipment in areas near Qusra and Jalud, close to Nablus.
Residents describe evacuations
The operation followed a siege of three Palestinian homes, occupied by members of the Abu Ridi and Hassan families, which began on Sunday. Settlers blocked access to the families’ gates and cut their electricity and water supplies, according to the report. Residents of two of the three homes said they were ordered to leave on Thursday and moved into the remaining house.
Eleven other homes elsewhere in Qusra were also ordered evacuated, the mayor said. Qaher Odeh, one of the residents, said more than 20 soldiers entered his home before returning later and telling him and his brother that the building was being used as a military post. He said they left the house and that the area was subsequently sealed off.
Videos from the village showed Israeli security vehicles, including a bulldozer, and later a line of security personnel on the road leading to Qusra. Qusay Abu Ridi, a member of one of the besieged families, said his family’s house was attacked again overnight and that some settlers remained in the area.
Official response and wider context
Israeli government spokesman David Mencer described the settlers’ actions as unacceptable and said authorities would investigate, arrest and prosecute those responsible. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee called the intimidation of the Qusra families a “horrific act of terror” in a post on X.
An earlier attempt by Israeli security forces to remove settlers on Wednesday led to confrontations with a larger group, according to footage shared with the BBC. The images showed soldiers and border police using tear gas and stun grenades.
The report said it was unclear what the settlers in Qusra sought. It noted that settlers have previously forced Palestinians from homes and taken over properties, while their stated aim is to empty areas of Palestinian residents. Settlements are illegal under international law, while the Israeli government has promoted their expansion.
UN figures cited in the report say 76 Palestinians, including 18 children, have been killed in the West Bank this year by Israeli forces or settlers. Three Israelis, including one civilian, were killed in confrontations with Palestinians and an alleged ramming attack. The UN also recorded about 3,800 Palestinian displacements in 2026 linked to settler violence, demolitions and evictions.
Source: BBC News
