The United States is urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn settlers who have surrounded Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank.
The call came as settlers continued a siege in the village of Qusra for nearly a week.
US and Israeli officials said Washington is pressing Netanyahu to speak out against the settlers’ actions. The officials spoke to Reuters on Friday.
Palestinians Remain Trapped in Their Homes
Settlers have surrounded three Palestinian homes in Qusra.
Residents say the settlers cut off water and electricity before blocking access to the homes.
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About 15 Palestinians, including two children, remain trapped inside the houses, according to the United Nations.
Palestinian resident Aysha Hassan told Reuters that residents remain afraid.
She said the situation had not changed and that settlers were still outside the homes.
Foreign and Israeli activists brought food, bottled water and canned goods to the area on Friday.
However, Israeli soldiers stopped the activists from delivering the aid directly to the homes. The military said the area had become a closed military zone.
US Ambassador Condemns Settler Actions
The United States has already criticized the actions in Qusra.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned the settlers on Thursday. He described those besieging a Palestinian home as “Israeli terrorists.”
A US official said Washington became particularly concerned after learning that a Palestinian-American lived in one of the targeted homes.
The White House also linked stability in the West Bank to Israel’s security.
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“A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure,” a White House official told Reuters.
Israeli Military Removes New Settler Tent
Settlers erected a new tent near one of the Palestinian homes on Friday.
Footage obtained by Reuters showed several settlers near the tent. One person appeared to throw stones toward the nearby village.
Israeli military vehicles and soldiers later arrived at the location.
The tent was subsequently removed.
The Israeli military said civilians had erected the tent in Qusra. It added that soldiers removed it while protecting local residents.
Netanyahu Faces Political Pressure
Netanyahu has not publicly commented on the siege.
His office also did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
However, condemning the settlers could create political pressure for the Israeli prime minister.
Netanyahu leads a right-wing coalition that relies partly on support from settler voters.
The issue also comes ahead of an election, making the political impact of any statement against settlers more sensitive.
Settler Violence Raises Concern
Violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank has increased since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.
Rights groups say settlers have sought to take control of land and properties around Qusra and nearby Jalud.
They allege that settlers want to connect areas near smaller outposts with larger settlements.
The Israeli government has also expanded settlements and settler outposts across the West Bank.
Israel captured the West Bank during the 1967 war.
Israeli Soldiers Face Disciplinary Action
The Israeli military said its forces entered Qusra on Thursday to protect residents and maintain security.
Earlier footage showed Israeli men wearing military-style uniforms praying with settlers inside a tent.
The military said it would take disciplinary action against personnel involved.
Meanwhile, the siege has drawn attention from international officials and rights groups.
For now, Palestinian families in Qusra remain at the center of growing concern over settler violence and the wider security situation in the occupied West Bank.
