The United States government has reportedly sent "furious" messages to Tel Aviv, demanding explanations regarding recent acts of violence by illegal Israeli settlers in Qusra, a town located near Nablus in the occupied West Bank. According to reports from the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, American officials expressed shock during conversations with their Israeli counterparts, openly questioning how such incidents occur and whether a state of anarchy exists in the region. The US side further challenged the Israeli military's failure to prevent harm against Palestinian residents.
These diplomatic concerns coincide with warnings from the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, which has characterized the situation as an escalating campaign of "ethnic cleansing" in the West Bank. B’Tselem reported that illegal settlers have recently established an outpost within the yards of two Palestinian homes in Qusra, aiming to displace the families and seize their property. Yuli Novak, the executive director of B’Tselem, stated that these developments are not isolated incidents but part of a broader trend where settler militias, supported by the Israeli army, target Palestinian towns to seize land and displace residents. Novak emphasized that this process is expanding "in full view of everyone."
The impact on local families has been severe. Palestinian resident Yousef Abdel-Salam reported that three families in Qusra have been isolated for three consecutive days after approximately 200 settlers blocked access roads with stones and erected tents. Abdel-Salam noted that his four-member family, alongside the families of his parents, brother, and another relative, have been trapped without access to food or essential supplies. Although Israeli forces briefly dismantled one tent, the settlers returned to obstruct the road, raising fears of an imminent attack or home invasion.
B’Tselem has documented similar patterns of displacement in other communities, including Jalud, Ein Sinya, Turmusaya, Beita, and Abu Falah. The group noted that in the village of Jalud last month, the Israeli army facilitated the displacement of the Tubasi family following a siege. According to B’Tselem, Israel has fully or partially displaced 64 Palestinian communities since October 2023, affecting over 4,800 individuals, more than 2,300 of whom are children. The organization also released footage purportedly showing both settlers and Israeli soldiers praying in the vicinity of Palestinian homes in Qusra, highlighting the ongoing volatility in the area.
