The United States ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has described a days-long siege of Palestinian homes by Israeli settlers as 'terror'. The unusually critical remarks came from a staunch ally of Israel who has previously voiced support for Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
On Thursday, Huckabee commented on the siege of three Palestinian homes in the village of Qusra near Nablus, including one belonging to a dual US citizen. Palestinian residents say they have been cut off from water, electricity, and other critical supplies during the siege, which they describe as an attempt by settlers to seize their land.
'Actions by those who carried out this horrific act of terror meant to intimidate and harass this family are disgusting,' Huckabee wrote on X. 'No excuse for such thuggish behaviour.'
The Times of Israel reported that Israeli forces and police attempted to 'evacuate the settlers' early on Thursday after a previous failed effort. The settlers, who have used rocks and tents to block the Palestinian homes, remained in the area as of Thursday morning.
Loai Ridi, an American-Palestinian who owns a house in the village, said his brother Qusai Abu Rida and 18-year-old nephew, Ahmed, were among those trapped. Speaking to Al Jazeera from Toledo, US, he said the family was relying on a temporary solar power system and leftover well water after supply lines were cut.
'He does not want to leave the home. Because if he leaves the home, the settlers will take over immediately,' Ridi said. Aisha Abu Rida, a Palestinian besieged in the town, vowed 'not to leave our home, no matter what happens'.
Al Jazeera's correspondent Nida Ibrahim said the village of Qusra 'in general is under siege'. 'Every single entrance to Qusra is blocked by the Israeli army, usually to prevent other Palestinians from offering help to these families,' she added.
Huckabee, however, also defended Israeli authorities, saying they had gone to Qusra at the request of the US embassy 'to remove the Israeli terrorists doing this'. He shared footage appearing to show Israeli tanks rolling into the West Bank town.
Israel's military said its forces had dismantled 'two illegal outposts' on the outskirts of Qusra and Jalud, confiscated equipment, and detained one Israeli. Israeli settlers regularly attack Palestinians, often with impunity, and violence has intensified under the right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Qusra sits in Area B of the occupied West Bank, nominally under Palestinian civil administration. The village has faced recent attacks, including the burning of a newly built mosque. More than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements considered illegal under international law, alongside roughly three million Palestinians.
Source: www.aljazeera.com