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| houses in Palestine |
Israeli Troops Enter Homes Amid Settler Siege in West Bank
QUSRA, West Bank — August 13, 2026
Israeli troops have taken positions inside Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra, where families have been surrounded by Israeli settlers for several days. Residents said the siege has cut off access to water and electricity and prevented families from freely entering or leaving their homes.
The Israeli military said troops were deployed in Qusra to protect residents and maintain security. The operation began on Thursday morning as the military increased its presence in the area following tensions between settlers and Palestinians.
The siege began over the weekend when settlers blocked a road leading to three Palestinian homes and placed a tent in their front yards. Residents said the settlers prevented people from reaching or leaving the houses and had previously cut their water and electricity supplies.
By Thursday evening, soldiers remained in three homes, according to Qusra's mayor Abed Al Athem Wadi and local residents. One of the homes is on the village outskirts near the area where settlers had established their position, while two others are closer to the centre of Qusra.
The military said its soldiers had been instructed to ensure that residents remained inside their homes. It also said soldiers would not enter the Palestinian family's house located near the site where a settler tent had been removed, although it was not immediately clear which of the three homes the statement referred to.
The United Nations said about 15 Palestinians, including two children, were trapped inside their homes without water or electricity. Families affected by the siege said they were running short of supplies and accused settlers of damaging property, throwing stones at their houses and verbally abusing residents.
The military had earlier used tear gas in an unsuccessful attempt to remove the settlers. On Thursday, it said additional troops had been sent to Qusra to conduct defensive operations and patrols aimed at maintaining security.
Video recorded earlier in the week showed several Israeli men wearing green military-style clothing joining settlers for morning prayers at the tent. The military said it was taking disciplinary action against any of its personnel found to have been involved.
The situation has also drawn criticism from the United States. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Israeli military and police forces had gone to the area at Washington's request to remove what he described as Israeli terrorists involved in the siege. He said the actions against the Palestinian family were criminal.
One Palestinian-American whose brother is among those trapped said his family remained frightened and needed protection, supplies and the ability to live freely in their home. He said a security camera at the property was removed by soldiers, preventing his family from continuing to monitor events remotely.
The confrontation comes amid wider concerns about Israeli settler activity in the West Bank. The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has supported an expansion of Israeli settlements, while Palestinians and rights groups have accused Israeli authorities of failing to prevent settlers from taking land and resources.
Qusra lies in an area where Israel maintains full security control. The West Bank, captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, is home to about three million Palestinians and roughly 500,000 Israeli settlers. According to the Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now, there are about 146 settlements and 390 smaller outposts across the territory.
The events in Qusra reflect the continuing tension between Palestinian communities, Israeli settlers and Israeli security forces in the West Bank. For the families surrounded by settlers, however, the immediate concern remains access to basic supplies and protection inside their homes.
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