US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has condemned Israeli settlers besieging Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra as a 'horrific act of terror', after settlers cut three families off from food and supplies.
Key facts
- Israeli settlers blocked the homes of three Palestinian families in Qusra, cutting them off from food and supplies.
- US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the siege a 'horrific act of terror'.
- Israeli troops forced two Palestinian families to leave their besieged homes on Thursday.
- Soldiers took over eight homes in Qusra, later relinquishing six, according to the Guardian.
- A former Israeli PM described the events as an attempt at ethnic cleansing, the Guardian reported.
Israeli settlers have blockaded the homes of three Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra, cutting them off from food and supplies, according to Al Jazeera. The siege targeted properties including the home of an American Palestinian family, prompting condemnation from senior US officials.
The US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, described the actions of the settlers as a ‘horrific act of terror’, according to Sky News and NPR. NPR reported that Huckabee condemned the settlers who are besieging the home of an American Palestinian family in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
According to the Guardian, Israeli troops forced two Palestinian families to leave their besieged West Bank homes on Thursday. This came a day after a top Israeli commander personally promised he would end the violent settler campaign to drive the families out.
The Guardian also reported that Israeli soldiers took over eight other homes in Qusra early on Thursday, telling the village’s mayor, Abdul Azim, that the buildings were needed for a days-long operation to remove the settlers. Soldiers later relinquished six of those homes, but settlers still roam the village.
A former prime minister of Israel described the events as a ‘concerted and meticulous attempt at ethnic cleansing’ against Palestinians, the Guardian reported.
The condemnation from the US ambassador is notable given the involvement of an American Palestinian family and the strong language used to describe the settler actions.
Why it matters
The siege and the US ambassador's sharp condemnation highlight escalating settler violence in the occupied West Bank and the involvement of an American family. Strong criticism from a senior US official signals rare public friction over events on the ground.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the siege taking place?
The siege is taking place in the village of Qusra in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where settlers blocked the homes of three Palestinian families.
Who called the siege an 'act of terror'?
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described the settler siege as a 'horrific act of terror', according to Sky News and NPR.
What did Israeli troops do in Qusra?
According to the Guardian, Israeli troops forced two Palestinian families to leave their besieged homes on Thursday and took over eight other homes, later relinquishing six.