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‘We have no protection’: Palestinian family vows not to leave Kusra home as extremists return

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A Palestinian family in Kusra fears for their safety as radical Israeli settlers have returned to the vicinity of their home after a temporary removal.
  • Settlers have previously thrown stones at the house, and the family feels unprotected despite military presence.
  • The family vows to remain on their land despite the ongoing harassment and perceived threat of expulsion.

A Palestinian family in the West Bank village of Kusra faces ongoing fear and harassment as radical Israeli settlers have returned to the area surrounding their home. Qusai Abu Ridi, a resident of Kusra, south of Nablus, reported that despite Israeli military actions to dismantle a makeshift outpost near his house, settlers remain in the vicinity, posing a threat.

They haven’t been evacuated, and we’re afraid they will attack us. They have already thrown stones at the house a couple of times, and we have no protection.

— Qusai Abu RidiExpressing fear for his family's safety due to the settlers' continued presence.

"The danger has not gone away," Abu Ridi told The Jerusalem Post. He described how settlers returned to a spot near his neighbor's house and then to the original tent site, located about seven meters from his own home. "I can see them from the window, sitting on mattresses and chairs," he said, expressing his fear that they will attack his family. The family has already experienced stones being thrown at their house, and they feel they have "no protection."

The danger has not gone away.

— Qusai Abu RidiDescribing the ongoing threat from settlers despite military intervention.

Abu Ridi attributes the recent escalation to deadly clashes in the nearby village of Tell a few weeks prior, noting an increase in settler presence and harassment since then. He described the establishment of the tent a few days ago as a continuation of provocations that began in January, escalating to a point where the family felt besieged, unable to leave their home and running out of food and water.

I can see them from the window, sitting on mattresses and chairs.

— Qusai Abu RidiDetailing the settlers' proximity to his home.

Despite the persistent threat, the Abu Ridi family is determined to stay on their land. "We will hold on to our land and property," Qusai stated. "We will not let them expel us from this land and take over. Even if we are left only with salt and water, we’ll stay here."

What happened in the past days has been much worse, blocking us inside the house without being able to go out. We were running out of food and water. Who can imagine something like that?

— Qusai Abu RidiRecounting the severity of the recent harassment.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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