The United States has called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn extremist Israeli settlers who have been besieging Palestinian homes in the West Bank village of Qusra. According to U.S. and Israeli officials, the settlers have surrounded several homes for nearly a week, restricting residents' movement and cutting off access to essential services.
The situation has drawn rare public criticism from senior U.S. officials. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described those responsible as "Israeli terrorists" after reports emerged that a Palestinian-American family was among those trapped inside the besieged homes.
Israeli security forces have deployed additional troops to the area and dismantled some temporary settler encampments. However, local residents and rights groups say the siege and intimidation have continued, raising concerns about the safety of civilians and the broader rise in settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has not publicly commented on the incident. U.S. officials are reportedly pressing the Israeli government to take a stronger public stance against extremist settler violence and ensure the protection of Palestinian civilians.
