Activists try to deliver aid to besieged Palestinians
Activists attempted to deliver water and food to two Palestinian families trapped inside homes besieged by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Activists tried delivering food and water to besieged Palestinian homes in the West Bank
- Two Palestinian families have been trapped since Sunday without power and water
- The IDF stated the village of Qusra is a closed military zone restricting entry
- The UN reports about 3,800 Palestinians displaced in 2026 due to settler violence
Activist groups have attempted to distribute essential supplies to Palestinian residents whose homes located in the occupied West Bank have been surrounded by Israeli settlers for multiple days. The group left water containers and food packages near a residential building in Qusra where two Palestinian families have remained trapped since Sunday, enduring a complete cutoff of electricity and water utilities.
Two local residents reported that Israeli security forces blocked activists from handing the humanitarian supplies directly to them, forcing the provisions to be left outside the premises. In contrast, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have formally denied these claims regarding access obstruction.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
On Friday, several settlers returned to pitch a tent near the disputed location, occurring just a day after an enforcement operation cleared the area. The structure was subsequently dismantled by military personnel. The IDF explained that Qusra is designated as a closed military zone, preventing Israeli civilians, including the participating activists, from entering the premises. Additional statements confirmed that soldiers acted to remove the newly erected tent while safeguarding local inhabitants.
The ongoing unrest in the West Bank highlights deep-seated tensions driven by settler expansion, which remains illegal under international law despite rapid backing from the Israeli government. Incidents of this nature underscore growing international scrutiny regarding settler impunity and the challenges security forces face in curbing rising local violence.
During Thursday's clearance operation, roughly a dozen Palestinian households were instructed to evacuate their properties, encompassing members of the Abu Ridi and Hassan families living across three besieged homes. Qusra Mayor Abdul Azim Wadi informed the BBC that Israeli forces have repurposed some of the vacated Palestinian residences to serve as military barracks.
The standoff began on Sunday when settlers obstructed the roadway leading to the families' gates and severed utility connections. Subsequent attempts by security forces to clear the settlers on Wednesday escalated into physical confrontations involving tear gas and stun grenades deployed against a large crowd.
Source: BBC World
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