Palestinian Family Under Siege in West Bank

A Palestinian-American family in the West Bank has been under siege in their home for over a week, after Israeli settlers laid siege to the house and the Israeli army turned it into a closed military area. The family, including Qusai Abu Ridi and his neighbor and their children, have been unable to leave their home due to the settlers’ blockade.

UNICEF delivered food, water, and medicine to the family over the weekend, but the situation remains dire. The settlers have been throwing rocks, cutting off electricity and water, and making obscene gestures at the family. Abu Ridi says the situation is ‘catastrophic’ and that the family is in ‘panic’.

Israeli Military’s Response

The Israeli military has sent a battalion to the area and restored water to the family’s home. However, the settlers have not been detained, and Abu Ridi says that the army is not doing enough to protect the family.

Aryeh Eldad, a former member of the Israeli Parliament, says that the settlers who are attacking Abu Ridi’s home are part of a larger group that is grabbing land and spreading fear. He describes them as ‘fringe’ individuals who are not recognized by the state of Israel.

Government Strategy

Michael Milshtein, who runs the Palestinian Studies Forum at Tel Aviv University, says that the attack on Abu Ridi’s home and the lack of consequences for the settlers fits with a broader government strategy to accumulate land claimed by Palestinians for a future state.

Hani Odeh, the former mayor of Qusra, says that the government’s goal is clear: to drive Palestinians out of the West Bank and into Jordan. He claims that the government sees Jordan as the Palestinian homeland.

Settler Violence

The siege on Abu Ridi’s home is not unique. A couple of miles away, Mahmoud Toubasi tells a similar story of how settlers blockaded his two family homes for 23 days. The settlers took control of his homes, only to be kicked out by the military, who are still present in the area.

Toubasi says that the settlers’ actions are ‘political theater’ and that they are trying to drive him and his family out of their homes. He describes the situation as ‘catastrophic’ and says that the family is in ‘panic’.

The Israeli government has issued a statement saying that it does not accept vigilantes in any form and is investing a lot of effort to curb such sporadic incidents. However, the situation on the ground remains dire, and the family continues to live in fear of the settlers.