Israeli Military Sends More Troops to West Bank Village After Settlers Besiege Palestinian Families and Block Their Homes

The Israeli military has deployed additional troops to the occupied West Bank village of Qusra after failing to remove Israeli settlers who have surrounded Palestinian homes and left families trapped without water and electricity. The escalation follows a rare confrontation between Israeli forces and settlers and has renewed concerns about growing settler violence and land seizures across the territory.

The situation began over the weekend when settlers established an outpost directly in front of three Palestinian homes on the outskirts of Qusra, south of Nablus. They blocked access to the properties and reportedly cut off electricity and water supplies, leaving Palestinian residents unable to freely enter or leave their homes.

The families have appealed for help as food and other essential supplies began running low. The United Nations said around 15 Palestinians, including children, were trapped inside their homes without access to basic necessities.

The Israeli military has said it is attempting to remove the settlers. But an effort on Wednesday ended without successfully clearing the area. Israeli forces used tear gas during confrontations with settlers, while footage reviewed by Reuters showed soldiers removing part of a tent belonging to the settlers before withdrawing. The settlers subsequently attempted to approach one of the Palestinian homes again.

The military later announced that additional forces had been sent to Qusra to conduct patrols and maintain security. It said troops were also working to evacuate the settlers from the area.

The confrontation has drawn particular attention because Israeli forces are rarely seen directly confronting settlers in this way. The military has described the newly established Qusra outpost as illegal, unacceptable and harmful to local residents.

The incident has also attracted diplomatic attention. The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, publicly condemned the actions of the settlers and said the US embassy had asked Israeli authorities to remove them. One of the homes belongs to the brother of a Palestinian-American businessman living in Ohio, adding another dimension to the dispute.

Questions have also been raised about the conduct of Israeli personnel at the site. Earlier footage reportedly showed Israeli soldiers praying alongside settlers at the makeshift outpost. The Israeli military said disciplinary action would be taken against personnel involved.

For Palestinians in Qusra, however, the incident is part of a much wider pattern rather than an isolated confrontation. Residents say settlers have increasingly targeted communities located on the edges of Palestinian villages, where land seizures and the establishment of new outposts can put homes and farmland under pressure.

The wider West Bank has experienced a sharp increase in settler violence and displacement. The territory, captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, is home to roughly three million Palestinians and around 500,000 Israeli settlers. According to settlement watchdog Peace Now, there are about 146 Israeli settlements and hundreds of smaller outposts across the West Bank.

The Qusra confrontation therefore highlights a difficult reality for Israeli authorities: settlers themselves are increasingly becoming a source of conflict with Palestinian residents while also, in some cases, challenging the authority of Israeli security forces.