Palestinian Families Remain Blockaded in West Bank Village as Israeli Military Pledges Action
Palestinian families in Qusra remained confined in their homes after settlers cut utilities and obstructed access, while Israel’s military said commanders were concerned and promised action.
In short
- Palestinian families in Qusra remained confined in their homes after settlers cut utilities and obstructed access, while Israel’s military said commanders were concerned and promised action.
Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra remained blockaded in their homes on Wednesday, August 12, despite an Israeli military commander’s pledge to remove settlers from the area.
The blockade began on Sunday, August 9, when settlers established a position outside the home of Yousef Hassan, according to reporting from Qusra. Hassan, relatives and nearby residents were confined as electricity and water were cut. His wife and two young daughters were later evacuated after settlers initially prevented an ambulance from reaching the home when the younger child became ill.
Hassan said the regional Israeli military commander visited on Wednesday and promised that the settlers would be removed. Soldiers took down a tent outside the property but withdrew while settlers remained nearby, leaving residents unable to move freely.
An Israeli military spokesperson said commanders were gravely concerned by the settlers’ conduct and that soldiers who supported them could face disciplinary action. The military also said it had ordered infantry reservists back to the West Bank to reinforce troops and was working with police to identify those responsible.
The episode follows the killing of 28-year-old Amir Moatasem Odeh by a settler in Qusra in March 2026. Reporting from the village said no arrest had been made in that case by August 12.
Israeli authorities declared the immediate area a closed military zone, restricting journalists’ access. Under international law, Israel, as the occupying power in the West Bank, is responsible for protecting Palestinian civilians and ensuring access to basic needs.
The latest Al Jazeera report, published on August 13, described three families as being affected. An earlier Guardian report documented two directly blockaded households and additional relatives and neighbours confined nearby. The differing counts appear to reflect the scope and timing of the reports rather than a confirmed change in the situation.
