Israeli Settlers Enter West Bank Village of Qusra Despite Military Zone Order

Approximately 15 settlers entered the Palestinian village of Qusra, also referred to as Kusra, in the West Bank on Saturday despite the area being declared a closed military zone, according to Jpost. Army Radio reported that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops arrived where the individuals were gathered, read the closed military area order to them, and the settlers subsequently left the area.

Israeli Settlers Enter West Bank Village of Qusra Despite Military Zone Order

Tensions in the village escalated on Wednesday following physical altercations between settlers and IDF soldiers after security forces evacuated a settler outpost. On Thursday, as the army deployed in Qusra, members of the Cabinet celebrated the rebuilding of a settlement that had been dismantled in 2005 as part of the Gaza withdrawal, AP News reported. The IDF sent an additional battalion to the village for reinforcement earlier in the week.

Residents Huddled Under Siege as Activists Attempt Aid Delivery

Palestinians in Qusra have huddled inside their homes for days, unable to leave due to the threat posed by settlers. Two Palestinian families have been trapped in their homes since Sunday with their power and water supplies cut off. Activists attempted to deliver supplies, leaving water and food near one of the houses, according to the BBC.

Israeli settlers put up an Israeli flag on a hilltop after it was taken down by Israeli and foreign peace activists during a — Photo: AP News

Two residents stated that Israeli forces prevented activists from delivering aid directly, forcing them to leave supplies outside, though the IDF denied this claim. Local resident Marmar Odeh told KAN News that the army and police were stationed a few meters away at a house under siege. Odeh stated that he has erected metal fences and window bars to protect his family, noting that the words ‘death to Arabs’ were spray-painted in Hebrew on a wall next to his home.

During the security operation on Thursday, about a dozen Palestinian households were told to leave their properties, including members of the Abu Ridi and Hassan families living in two of three besieged homes. Qusra Mayor Abdul Azim Wadi stated that Israeli forces were using some of the vacated Palestinian houses as barracks, while the military stated the aim was to protect residents.

IDF to Probe Conduct and Decisions Following Incidents

The IDF announced it will conduct a probe into the conduct and decisions surrounding the incidents in Qusra. A military spokesperson told Jpost that the investigation will examine why it took 48 hours to evacuate the illegal outpost set up by extremists, why the military did not remove the outpost a second time after settlers returned, and the manner in which Palestinian families were evacuated on Thursday.

Members of the Israeli security forces stand guard near a Palestinian house, which was besieged by Israeli settlers, in Qusra — Photo: BBC

Additionally, on Friday, a number of settlers returned to set up a tent near the site before it was removed by Israeli forces. The IDF stated that Qusra was a closed military zone restricting Israeli civilians, but added that they were not prevented from transferring aid to Palestinian homes. Human rights groups and researchers, including Ezra Brownstein of Rabbis for Human Rights, have raised concerns over extremist settlers attempting to seize more land and take over houses in the area.