US diplomat calls Israeli settler siege of West Bank homes ‘act of terror’

What the report says

The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has publicly denounced a multi-day siege by Israeli settlers against three Palestinian homes in the village of Qusra, near Nablus in the occupied West Bank, calling it an act of terror. According to Al Jazeera, the homes have been blocked by rocks and tents, leaving residents cut off from water, electricity and other supplies. One of the targeted houses belongs to a dual U.S. citizen, and local families say they fear leaving because they believe the settlers would quickly take over the property.

Palestinian residents and Al Jazeera’s West Bank correspondent said access to the village has also been restricted, with entrances blocked by the Israeli army, making it difficult for others to reach the trapped families or bring help. A Palestinian resident described relying on stored well water and a temporary solar power setup. Huckabee said Israeli authorities responded at the request of the U.S. embassy to remove the settlers, whom he referred to as Israeli terrorists.

The Israeli military said it dismantled two illegal outposts near Qusra and nearby Jalud, confiscated equipment and detained one Israeli. The episode comes amid rising settler violence and land seizures across the West Bank, where more than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements considered illegal under international law. Al Jazeera noted that Qusra has also seen other recent attacks, including the burning of a mosque last month.