Besieged Palestinians in Qusra homes say IDF now blocking them in, fear settlers will return

IDF soldiers were stationed outside Palestinian homes in Qusra, south of Nablus, that have been besieged for the past week, blocking the occupants from leaving while apparently attempting to prevent settlers from returning, a resident said Sunday.

The residents of two homes on the outskirts of Qusra had been under siege since August 9, when settler extremists surrounded the buildings in an apparent effort to compel their residents – including young children – to flee.

The siege sparked an IDF operation late last week in which the army temporarily relocated the Hassan and Abu Ridi families in order to remove the settlers. The families were later allowed to return.

However, Yusuf Hassan told The Times of Israel that soldiers had then prohibited him from leaving his home due to a closed military zone order issued for the area, essentially leaving the siege in place. He added that he feared that as soon as IDF troops leave the area, the settlers would return and once again block the homes.

There was no comment from the IDF.

For the past three days, soldiers have been staying in a building next to one of the besieged homes to keep settlers from returning, though it’s unclear to what extent they have truly kept away.

Footage provided to The Times of Israel on Sunday showed what appeared to be settlers near homes on the outskirts of Qusra.

In the footage, an ATV was seen traveling on dirt roads a few hundred meters from the homes, in an area that has been declared a closed military zone. The ATV is of a type used by extremist settler groups setting up wildcat outposts across the West Bank.

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United Nations representatives arrived at homes Sunday, bringing residents food and water, according to videos and accounts from the homeowners who spoke with The Times of Israel.

The homeowners also said the UN representatives brought a water tanker with them, but security forces did not allow it to remain at the site.

An outpost called Tel Talpiot was established in the past few months several hundred meters above the homes, at the top of the hill. Palestinians say attacks on homes in the area were launched from the outpost even before settlers began blocking the homes at the edge of the village.

The army cleared the outpost buildings late last week as international pressure grew over the settlers blocking Palestinians from leaving their homes, and carried out a number of failed attempts to clear the settlers.

In addition to the unsuccessful attempts to clear the extremists, which on one occasion led to clashes with troops, some soldiers were filmed praying alongside the settlers outside the homes rather than removing them. The army said those troops would be disciplined.

Elisha Yered, a well-known veteran activist involved in establishing outposts, wrote in the last few days that settlers had been building at the site in recent months because it is a high hill in the West Bank, and because they believed the Palestinian Authority was attempting to pave roads and construct buildings on the hilltop in order to gain control over the entire area.

He also claimed that acts of terrorism had been carried out against settlers at the site in the months since the outpost was established, and denied that the canopy erected near the families’ homes had prevented residents from entering or leaving their properties.

Settler violence has mounted in recent years, with near-daily, sometimes deadly attacks taking place throughout the West Bank, but few suspects arrested and charged. Critics accuse the government of condoning or even encouraging the attacks. In addition, IDF troops have been accused of standing by and allowing the violence, or even aiding it in some cases.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained silent since the settlers first began besieging the homes. While the siege has not drawn any considerable criticism from the Israeli political leadership, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee — a strong supporter of Jewish settlement in the West Bank — condemned the settlers behind it on Thursday as “Israeli terrorists.”

So far, one settler has been detained and there have been no arrests.

Hebron clash allegedly sparked by settler attack

Meanwhile, two Israelis and 10 Palestinians were injured in clashes in Hebron overnight, according to competing accounts from the Israel Defense Forces and the Palestinian Red Crescent.

According to the IDF, troops were dispatched to an Israeli settlement enclave inside the West Bank Palestinian city overnight, following reports of gunfire in the area.

As the troops arrived, they identified a confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians, which included stone-throwing between the sides, the army said.

One of the Israelis fired into the air amid the clash, and two Israelis were injured by the stone throwing, according to the IDF.

“Later, Palestinian suspects gathered around the soldiers and attempted to attack them. The troops fired at two suspects and arrested several additional suspects,” the military said.

No Israelis were detained.

The Red Crescent said the settlers were accompanied by soldiers as they attacked Palestinians.

Bassam Jabari, a Hebron resident who was at the scene and spoke with The Times of Israel, said settlers approached Palestinian homes around midnight, threw stones at homes and cars, and also attempted to set cars on fire.

He said that several Palestinians who came out of their homes were shot by IDF troops, including his brother and nephew. A video of the aftermath of the incident showed blood covering the ground as a man was loaded into an ambulance.

Jabari’s brother was taken to a Palestinian hospital. His nephew, he said, was taken by soldiers in a military ambulance to a hospital in Jerusalem. It was unclear why he was taken there, though he may be considered a suspect in the incident.

The IDF said that the incident is under further investigation.

A military source said that the investigation was probing whether Palestinians had tried to grab one of the soldiers’ guns during the later clash.