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UN Says Families Remain Surrounded as Siege Tightens in Qusra

8/19/2026

41 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Ridi Raises Flag

On August 18, 2026, Palestinian-American Loui Ridi returned to Qusra in the Israel-occupied West Bank and raised a flag.
Israeli soldiers declared a closed military zone but left settlers camped outside the house.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee called the settlers “Israeli terrorists,” and the United States denounced the siege.
The United Nations said three families remained surrounded by Israeli forces.

Summary

IDF Blocks Outpost

IDF soldiers have been posted at the entrances and inside one home for several days to stop settlers re-establishing an outpost.
UN officials brought a water tanker on Sunday, which Israeli security barred from the site.
The Israeli army repaired the water line damaged by settlers, calling the tanker unnecessary.
Residents reported IDF troops told them they still may not leave their houses while soldiers guard the entrances.

History

Historical Context

During the Second Intifada, Israel launched Operation Defensive Shield (29 March–3 May 2002), the largest West Bank offensive since 1967, imposing curfews and cordons. The 2026 sealing of a house in Qusra, condemned by U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee and met with a UN water-tanker blockade, echoes that earlier pattern of military sieges and international criticism.

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Ridi Raises Flag

On August 18, 2026, Palestinian-American Loui Ridi returned to Qusra in the Israel-occupied West Bank and raised a flag.
Israeli soldiers declared a closed military zone but left settlers camped outside the house.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee called the settlers “Israeli terrorists,” and the United States denounced the siege.
The United Nations said three families remained surrounded by Israeli forces.

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