The United States is pressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn a siege imposed by Jewish settlers on Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank, according to US and Israeli officials.
Settlers have been surrounding three homes in the Palestinian village of Qusra for nearly a week, preventing residents from entering or leaving. Rights groups say the incident is part of a broader effort by settlers to seize Palestinian land and expand their presence in the area.
A US official and an Israeli official said White House officials have urged Netanyahu to publicly denounce the siege. Washington became involved after learning that one of the homes belonged to a Palestinian-American citizen, according to the officials, who spoke anonymously because of the sensitivity of the discussions.
Netanyahu has yet to comment publicly on the situation. Neither his office nor the White House immediately responded to requests for comment.
US Ambassador Condemns Settlers
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who has strongly supported Jewish settlements in the West Bank, publicly criticized the siege on Thursday, describing settlers surrounding a Palestinian home as “Israeli terrorists.”
Aysha Hassan, a Palestinian resident of one of the besieged homes, said she and her family remain frightened as the standoff continues.
“There is nothing new. It’s been like this for six days,” she said, adding that settlers were still present near the homes.
The United Nations said around 15 Palestinians, including two children, were trapped inside the affected homes without water or electricity.
Israeli Forces Remove Settler Tent
Video obtained by Reuters showed several settlers gathered outside one of the homes near a blue tent. One person appeared to throw stones toward the nearby village before Israeli military vehicles and soldiers arrived.
The Israeli military said civilians had erected the tent in the Qusra area and that soldiers moved to remove it while protecting local residents.
The military had also deployed dozens of troops in Qusra and occupied several village homes, according to local accounts.
Political Pressure on Netanyahu
The incident presents a political challenge for Netanyahu, whose right-wing coalition relies heavily on support from the settler community.
Publicly condemning the settlers could anger voters who support the expansion of settlements, particularly with an election approaching and opinion polls showing Netanyahu facing a serious political challenge.
Settler violence in the West Bank has increased since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
Rights organizations accuse settlers of seeking to take control of properties and land around Qusra and neighboring Jalud, with the aim of connecting the area to settler outposts and larger settlements.
Soldiers Seen Praying With Settlers
The siege began over the weekend when settlers blocked access to the three homes and established a tent in their yards, preventing residents from leaving or receiving visitors. Water and electricity had reportedly been cut off earlier.
Videos recorded during the week also showed several Israeli men wearing military-style uniforms joining settlers for morning prayers inside the tent.
The Israeli military said it would take disciplinary action against any personnel found to have participated in the gathering.
The West Bank is home to around 3 million Palestinians and 500,000 Israeli settlers. According to Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now, the territory contains approximately 146 settlements and 390 smaller outposts.
