The U.S. envoy to Israel has criticized Jewish settlers for besieging an American Palestinian family’s home in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Mike Huckabee described the siege as a “horrific act of terror.” Settlers have been gathering near the residence in Qusra village, harassing the occupants despite Israeli military intervention. The group, consisting of dozens of men, has thrown stones, tried to breach a nearby stone wall, and trapped the family inside with depleting supplies.
Loui Ridi, the homeowner, revealed that his brother and nephew, who were defending the house, were stranded without access to food or water. Israeli forces recently evacuated Ridi’s brother and son from the property, but the status of the house and another targeted property remains uncertain.
Israeli military operations have been conducted to restore order, including the dismantling of illegal outposts and increased patrols near Qusra. Critics accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of ignoring settler attacks on Palestinians, leading to heightened tensions in the region.
Huckabee’s strong condemnation on social media marked a rare rebuke from a U.S. official, although he supported the Israeli military’s actions. Security footage showed settlers near the damaged stone wall by the house. Ridi stated that settlers had been harassing his family for months, cutting off utilities and causing property damage.
The escalating situation in Qusra follows previous incidents, including the burning of a mosque and fatal clashes. Settlers’ expansion efforts, condemned internationally, threaten Palestinian statehood aspirations in the West Bank. Palestinians aim to establish a state that includes the West Bank, while settlers argue for Israeli sovereignty based on historical, religious, and security grounds.
