US wants Netanyahu to condemn settler siege in Palestinian village, officials say

The United States is urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly denounce extremist Israeli settlers who have laid siege to Palestinian homes in the West Bank village of Kusra. U.S. and Israeli officials confirmed that Washington is pressing Netanyahu to condemn the actions, which have trapped residents for nearly a week.

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Israeli terrorists.

Settlers have surrounded homes in Kusra, cutting off water and electricity. Rights groups characterize these actions as a deliberate campaign to seize additional Palestinian land, further encroaching on territory designated for a future Palestinian state. The U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has already labeled the settlers besieging a Palestinian home as "Israeli terrorists."

U.S. officials stated that Washington intensified its protests after learning a Palestinian-American's home was among those targeted. The pressure on Netanyahu comes as he faces a potentially politically risky decision. Condemning settlers could alienate crucial voters within his right-wing coalition just two months before an election, especially as his security credentials remain under scrutiny following the 2023 Hamas attacks.

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We are very afraid.

Palestinian residents described their fear and the ongoing siege. Aysha Hassan, living in one of the three besieged homes, reported seeing settlers below her house and shared videos of the activity. While activists managed to deliver some aid, including food and water, to the area on Friday, Israeli soldiers prevented direct delivery to the homes, citing a closed military zone. The military later stated it had removed a tent erected by settlers.

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There is nothing new. It's been like this for six days...the settlers are still here.