Diplomatic Outcry Over West Bank Blockade
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has publicly denounced a prolonged siege of Palestinian homes by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, labeling it an “act of terror.” These remarks, made on Thursday, August 12, 2026, followed a days-long blockade of three Palestinian residences in the village of Qusra, near Nablus. Notably, one of the affected families includes a dual US citizen. Huckabee, typically a staunch supporter of Israel and its West Bank settlements, delivered an unusually sharp critique of the settlers' actions.
Residents of the besieged homes reported being deprived of crucial resources such as water, electricity, and other necessities. They interpret the blockade as a deliberate tactic by settlers to forcibly seize their land. Ambassador Huckabee expressed his condemnation on social media, stating, “Actions by those who carried out this horrific act of terror meant to intimidate and harass this family are disgusting. No excuse for such thuggish behaviour.”
Details of the Siege and Response Efforts
According to The Times of Israel, Israeli forces and police made attempts to dislodge the settlers on Thursday morning, following an unsuccessful effort the previous day. However, reports indicated that the settlers, who had used rocks and tents to obstruct access to the Palestinian homes, remained in the area. Loai Ridi, an American-Palestinian, whose brother Qusai Abu Rida and 18-year-old nephew Ahmed were among those trapped, shared insights from Toledo, US. He explained that his family was relying on a temporary solar power system and residual well water, their regular supply lines having been severed. Ridi emphasized his brother's resolve: “He [Qusai Abu Rida] does not want to leave the home. Because if he leaves the home, the settlers will take over immediately.”
Aisha Abu Rida, another Palestinian resident under siege, echoed this determination in comments to Al Jazeera, asserting, “not [to] leave our home, no matter what happens.” Nida Ibrahim, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in the occupied West Bank, highlighted the broader impact, noting that the entire village of Qusra was effectively under siege. She reported that Israeli army blockades at every entrance to Qusra were preventing external assistance from reaching the beleaguered families, underscoring that not only were three families trapped, but an entire community was isolated for actions they did not commit.
Official Statements and Broader Context
Despite his strong criticism of the settlers, Ambassador Huckabee also defended Israeli authorities, stating that they had responded to a request from the US embassy to “remove the Israeli terrorists doing this.” He shared footage purportedly showing Israeli tanks entering the West Bank village. Concurrently, the Israeli military announced on Thursday that its forces had dismantled “two illegal outposts… on the outskirts of the Qusra and Jalud areas” of the occupied West Bank, confiscating equipment and apprehending one Israeli individual.
The incident in Qusra is part of a larger pattern of violence and land appropriation in the occupied West Bank. Israeli settlers frequently target Palestinians and their property, often with accusations that Israeli forces are complicit or passively support these actions. The frequency of such incidents has escalated in recent months, with settlers reportedly emboldened by the right-wing government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which has overseen a significant expansion of settlement construction in the territory.
Qusra is situated in Area B of the occupied West Bank, an area nominally under Palestinian civil administration. The village has endured a series of recent aggressions, including the burning of a newly constructed mosque last month. A similar siege in the neighboring village of Jalud in July, lasting two weeks, resulted in two Palestinian families being displaced from their land, which was subsequently taken over by settlers. International law deems Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal. Over 500,000 Israelis reside in these settlements, alongside approximately three million Palestinians. Israel has maintained occupation of the territory since 1967.
