Soldiers keeping settlers from Qusra siege, but residents say they are still stuck

In the past few hours, soldiers have been stationed outside the besieged Palestinian homes in Qusra, south of Nablus, preventing Israeli settlers from returning and blocking them, Yusuf Hassan, a resident of one of the homes, tells The Times of Israel.

The residents of two homes on the outskirts of Qusra had been unable to leave their homes since August 9, sparking an IDF operation late last week in which the army temporarily relocated the families in order to remove the settlers. The Hassans and members of the Abu Ridi family staying in a house next door were later allowed to return.

However, Hassan says soldiers have prohibited him from leaving his home due to a closed military zone order issued for the area, essentially leaving the siege in place. He adds that he fears that as soon as IDF troops leave the area, the settlers will return and once again block the home.

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.

A Qusra resident who lives relatively close to the besieged homes tells The Times of Israel that no settlers have been seen on the hill since last night and that IDF troops are patrolling the area.

In recent months, an outpost called Tel Talpiot was established 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.