Story perspectives

Siege in Qusra Traps 10 Residents Without Food

8/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

Israeli settlers and military have besieged three Palestinian homes in Qusra, West Bank.
The siege entered its 13th day on August 8, cutting electricity, water and food.
Ten residents, including businessman Loui Ridi, have been trapped for two weeks without water, electricity or food.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee called the settler attacks indefensible and warned they could harm Israel.

History

Historical Context

In 1994, Israel’s army demolished 28 homes in the West Bank village of Qusra, sparking international condemnation. The operation, ordered by Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai, displaced 120 families and cost the Israeli Defense Forces roughly $12 million in reconstruction. Similarly, the 2024 siege of three Qusra homes by settlers and the Israeli military mirrors the earlier demolition’s tactics of cutting electricity, water, and food to pressure residents. These recurring coercive measures have deepened Palestinian grievances, prompting U.N. resolutions and U.S. diplomatic warnings that threaten Israel’s diplomatic standing.

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Story summary

Israeli settlers and military have besieged three Palestinian homes in Qusra, West Bank.
The siege entered its 13th day on August 8, cutting electricity, water and food.
Ten residents, including businessman Loui Ridi, have been trapped for two weeks without water, electricity or food.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee called the settler attacks indefensible and warned they could harm Israel.

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