Israeli occupation soldiers blocked on Tuesday, August 25, Hadash MK Ofer Cassif from reaching a Palestinian family home in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra, where settlers have maintained a 18-day siege. Cassif eventually reached the families and expressed his support.

Occupation soldiers blocked forcibly Knesset lawmaker Ofer Cassif from reaching a Palestinian family whose home has been surrounded by settlers in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra, Tuesday, August 25, 2026 (Footage: Zo Haderekh)

Louai Ridi, a Palestinian American, has been effectively trapped on his property since settlers first arrived in the area on Aug. 9. The settlers pitched a tent surrounding Ridi’s home before cutting water pipes and electricity lines and blocking roads leading to his property, making it extremely difficult for the Ridi family and other residents to go about the area.

Videos posted by Cassif, Zo Haderekh and the Palestinian families have brought international attention to the standoff, creating an unusual degree of pressure on the Israeli government and its military.

In a rare public condemnation, staunch Israel supporter and far-right American ambassador to the Israel, Mike Huckabee, referred to the settlers as “Israeli terrorists.” Despite claims by the Israeli occupation army alleging it has deployed troops to dispel the settlers, residents say soldiers are seen casually socializing with them while Palestinian families remain restricted under the threat of chaos and violence. The situation in Qusra reflects a much broader expansion of Israeli settler activity across the occupied West Bank.

Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=33526