Israeli Settlers Move Back to Northern West Bank Settlement Evacuated in 2005

The IDF evicted some 20 Palestinian families from their homes in the village of Qusra, near Nablus in the West Bank, during an operation to remove Israeli settlers who have besieged Palestinian homes in the area.

Families who were besieged in their homes by settlers were also handed an eviction notice, but are refusing to leave. According to the families, Israeli troops told them to leave ahead of an IDF operation in the area they said would last three days. One resident, Qusai Abu Ridi, said he does not want to leave for fear that he will not be able to return after the operation.

Israeli troops said the evictions were meant to prevent friction between Palestinian residents and settlers, Israeli peace activists in the area said. The IDF said its forces are in the area to protect the village residents, including one of the “allegedly besieged” Palestinian homes.

Qusra’s mayor told a local radio station that early this morning he received a message from Palestinian authorities that an IDF operation would be conducted in the village, and he was asked to prevent friction between Palestinian residents and Israeli soldiers. Troops closed shops and prevented movement, and the village is under siege, the mayor said.

For now, the evicted residents are being hosted by their neighbours in the center of the village.

The IDF said it dismantled two illegal settler outposts overnight on the outskirts of Qusra and Jalud, though residents said settlers remain in the area, alongside many troops. The forces also worked to dismantle nearby Tel Talpiot, a notoriously violent illegal settler outpost.

One Israeli was detained during the army’s dismantling of the settler outposts, and the settlers’ equipment at the site was confiscated, the army’s statement said. Reinforcements from the IDF’s 51st Battalion were deployed to assist the troops, the statement added.

One of the besieged homes is owned by a U.S. citizen. Earlier on Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the settlers involved “Israeli terrorists.”

“Actions by those who carried out this horrific act of terror meant to intimidate and harass this family are disgusting. No excuse for such thuggish behavior,” he wrote, adding that the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem “has been very involved” in seeking a resolution to the incident and that the IDF and the police arrived at the scene at the U.S. embassy’s request.