The recent encirclement of Palestinian residences by militant Israeli settlers in the village of Qusra in the occupied West Bank is not an isolated occurrence. However, the U.S. citizenship of one of the Palestinian homeowners has garnered more attention from the media compared to the frequent acts of aggression by hardline Jewish settlers aiming to displace Palestinians from their land.
Loui Ridi, a businessman based in Ohio, returned to Qusra on August 17 to protect his home, where his brother and nephew reside, as settlers surrounded it along with two neighboring homes. Ridi expressed the dire situation as his family lacked food and feared leaving the house would lead to settlers seizing their property.
Highlighting the ongoing settler aggression, Ridi recalled a recent incident in a neighboring village where settlers forced a family out of their home after a prolonged siege. The expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, deemed illegal under international law, has notably increased during the tenure of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ultranationalist coalition partners.
Upon his return to Qusra, Ridi displayed an American flag on his building and sought assistance from the U.S. Embassy. Situated about 16 kilometers south of Nablus, Qusra is surrounded by settlement blocs and outposts occupied by radical settlers, including Migdalim and Shilo.
Reports from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs indicate a surge in settler attacks causing casualties or property damage, averaging around six incidents daily this year – the highest on record. The violence in Qusra prompted condemnation from U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who denounced the perpetrators as “Israeli terrorists.”
Despite the presence of Israeli border police and IDF units in Qusra to restore order and remove settlers blockading Palestinian homes, Ridi faced challenges as one settler intimidated him with minimal intervention from the authorities. The ongoing conflict in the region has blurred the distinction between soldiers and settlers, contributing to a belief among Palestinians that the IDF supports Israel’s settlement activities.
The situation in Qusra exemplifies a broader pattern of settler violence targeting the outskirts of Palestinian communities, aiming to restrict their living spaces and facilitate the expansion of settlements. International condemnation has also arisen, with several countries criticizing Israel’s construction plans for a new settlement near East Jerusalem, undermining the viability of a two-state solution.
