A Palestinian-American family is defending their home in the West Bank village of Qusra after being surrounded by Israeli settlers for over a week.

Loui Ridi, an Ohio-based Palestinian-American, returned to the West Bank village of Qusra on Monday to join family members who have been trapped in his home for more than a week. The property has been surrounded by Israeli settlers, leading the Israeli military to declare the neighborhood a closed military zone. While the military has deployed troops to the area, the family reports that the siege has prevented them from leaving or working.

Conditions inside the besieged home

The home, described as a 4,000-square-foot property, has faced repeated harassment, including rock-throwing and the disruption of electricity and water supplies. Qusai Abu Ridi, who has been sheltering inside with family, described the situation as catastrophic, noting that the children are in a state of panic. Over the weekend, UNICEF delivered food, water, and medicine to the residents.

Military and government response

The Israeli military stated it has sent a battalion to the area to maintain order and that water services have been restored. While the military has occasionally dispersed settlers, residents claim that soldiers have failed to detain them and have been seen interacting with them. Ophir Falk, a foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that Israel does not accept vigilantes and is working to curb such incidents.