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Trapped and cut off: Palestinian families under settler siege in the West Bank
🇪🇬 Egypt /Conflict & Security

Trapped and cut off: Palestinian families under settler siege in the West Bank

From Egypt Independent · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Israeli settlers are besieging a hilltop in the occupied West Bank, cutting off water, electricity, and roads to Palestinian homes.
  • Residents are trapped with dwindling food supplies, while Israeli soldiers initially joined settlers in prayer before attempting to remove them, an effort that failed.
  • The Israeli military later deployed troops to the area, but first forced Palestinian residents to vacate their homes for use as temporary bases.

Loui Ridi had dreamed of building a home in his native Qusra, in the occupied West Bank, for his daughters who grew up in Ohio. The family trips had sparked their love for their Palestinian roots, prompting Ridi's daughters to ask if they could have a home where their grandmother lived and their father was born.

Can we have a home where grandmother lives, where you were born and raised?

— Loui Ridi's daughtersRidi's daughters expressed their desire to have a home in their father's native Palestinian town.

That dream is now on hold as Israeli settlers have laid siege to the hilltop where Ridi's and two other homes are located. The settlers pitched a tent, cut off water and electricity lines, and blocked roads, preventing anyone from reaching the residents. Trapped inside are Ridi's brother, Qusai, and his son, with only enough food for a few more days.

They have their eyes set on the house and on this hilltop; they want to take it. We will not surrender and we will not leave, even if we have to drink salt and water in this house and if there’s not a single piece of bread left.

— Qusai RidiQusai Ridi described the settlers' intentions and his family's resolve to stay in their home despite the siege.

"They have their eyes set on the house and on this hilltop; they want to take it," Qusai said. "We will not surrender and we will not leave, even if we have to drink salt and water in this house and if there’s not a single piece of bread left." Ridi watched from Ohio via security cameras, contacting Israeli authorities who are responsible for security in the area. To his disbelief, Israeli soldiers arrived, greeted the settlers warmly, and joined them in prayer.

This is a closed military area. You’re interfering with military activity.

— Israeli soldierA soldier informed journalists and activists that they could not access the hilltop due to it being a closed military area.

Israeli soldiers and border police attempted to remove the settlers on Wednesday, but dozens more arrived, blocking the road with boulders and throwing rocks at security forces. The soldiers withdrew after firing sound grenades and using pepper spray. Journalists and activists attempting to reach the hilltop were also stopped, with soldiers declaring it a closed military area. The Israeli military later launched a more forceful operation, deploying an infantry battalion. However, one of their first actions was to force more than a dozen Palestinian families, including Qusai, to leave their homes so the soldiers could use them as temporary bases. Qusai expressed concern that this might be a ploy to eventually allow settlers to occupy his home. Hours later, the military reversed course, stating residents would remain.

They are monstruous, so I don’t expect them to leave so easily.

— Qusai RidiQusai Ridi commented on the settlers' behavior and his low expectations of them leaving voluntarily.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Egypt Independent. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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