The U.S. ambassador to Israel has strongly criticized Jewish settlers for besieging the residence of an American Palestinian family in the West Bank, which is under Israeli occupation. Mike Huckabee described the ongoing siege as a “horrific act of terror.”
Reports from local sources and family members indicate that since Sunday, a group of settlers have been gathering near the house in the village of Qusra, causing harassment to the occupants and defying efforts by the Israeli military to resolve the situation. The group, comprising dozens of men, has engaged in activities such as hurling stones, attempting to breach a stone wall nearby, and preventing the family from leaving despite limited supplies.
The homeowner, Loui Ridi, speaking from Ohio, mentioned that his brother and nephew, aged 48, who were defending the home, had been trapped inside without access to food or water for several days. On Thursday morning, the owner’s brother, Qusai Abu Rida, and his teenage son were evacuated by the Israeli military, while the fate of the property and other targeted homes remained uncertain.
Israeli forces have stepped in recently to restore order, dismantling “two illegal outposts” on the outskirts of Qusra and a neighboring village, detaining one Israeli individual. Additional soldiers have been deployed to the area, located approximately 16 kilometers from Nablus, for defensive operations and patrols.
The situation has drawn attention to the escalating clashes between settlers and Palestinians in the region. Critics, including Palestinians and Israeli opposition members, accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of ignoring settler attacks on Palestinians. Mike Huckabee, a staunch supporter of Israel’s settler movement, criticized the actions while defending the Israeli military’s response.
Footage from home security cameras revealed a few settlers hiding near a damaged stone wall close to the house on Thursday morning. The homeowner, Ridi, highlighted the ongoing harassment by settlers, including cutting off water and electricity, throwing stones, and damaging properties in the area.
The conflict reflects broader tensions in the West Bank, where settlers continue to establish outposts, undermining hopes for a future Palestinian state. Palestinians aim to include the West Bank, seized by Israel in the 1967 war, in their prospective state, while many settlers argue for Israeli sovereignty over the entire region for historical, religious, and security reasons.