Activists have attempted to bring supplies to Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra, where homes have been under a settler siege for several days. The group left water and food near one house, but two residents said Israeli forces stopped them from handing the aid over directly, forcing them to leave it outside. The Israeli military denied this claim.

On Friday, settlers returned to set up a tent near the site, a day after an operation to disperse them. Israeli forces later removed the tent. The military said Qusra was a closed military zone, barring Israeli civilians, including activists, from entering, but insisted they were not prevented from transferring aid to the Palestinian homes.

Around a dozen Palestinian households, including members of the Abu Ridi and Hassan families, were told to leave their properties during Thursday's dispersal operation. Qusra Mayor Abdul Azim Wadi told the BBC that Israeli forces were using some vacated houses as barracks. The military said its aim was to protect residents and that soldiers were instructed that residents would remain in their homes.

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The siege began on Sunday when settlers blocked roads to the families' gates and cut off power and water. Initial Israeli soldiers at the scene prayed with the settlers, an act for which they were to be disciplined. An attempt to dislodge the settlers on Wednesday led to confrontations, with security forces using tear gas and stun grenades, as shown in Palestinian security camera footage shared with the BBC.

The settlers' demands are unclear, but their stated aim is to empty the area of Palestinian residents. Settlements are illegal under international law, though the Israeli government has promoted their expansion. The UN reports that since January 2023, 127 Palestinian communities in the West Bank have experienced full or partial displacement, affecting over 6,390 Palestinians.

Source: BBC News