US wants Netanyahu to condemn settler siege in Palestinian village

US officials have urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn militant settlers besieging Palestinians in the West Bank village of Qusra. The United States and Israeli officials revealed their concerns on Friday, after settlers encircled homes in Qusra for almost a week, cutting off water and electricity to trap Palestinians inside.

Rights groups have raised alarms about the settlers' actions, stating they are part of a concerted effort to seize more land, further encroaching on territory that Palestinians aim to turn into a state.

The siege began when settlers closed off the road to the three homes and erected a tent in the front yards, preventing anyone from entering or leaving. They had previously cut off electricity and water to the homes. Israeli military forces deployed to Qusra on Thursday morning to protect residents and maintain security. Footage shared by Palestinian residents showed seven settlers near a blue tent, some throwing stones at the village, while another brought chairs.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, a vocal advocate for Jewish settlements in the West Bank, condemned the settlers' actions as "Israeli terrorists" on Thursday. The US is pressing Netanyahu to condemn the settlers' behavior, as the stable West Bank is crucial for Israel's security and aligns with the administration's goal of achieving peace in the region.

Netanyahu's government, the most right-wing in Israeli history, has significantly expanded settlements in the West Bank. Rights groups accuse settlers of attempting to seize properties on the outskirts of Qusra and neighboring Jalud, part of a strategy to seize land and connect it with settlements to the south and larger settlements to the west.

The siege continues with Israeli military forces preventing aid delivery to the trapped residents. Aysha Hassan, a Palestinian woman living in one of the besieged homes, expressed her fear, stating that the situation has been ongoing for six days. The Israeli military stated that they would check the aid and bring it to the families, but settlers had blocked access to the homes.

Israeli officials have stated that the incident involved settlers erecting a tent and Israeli soldiers operating to remove it while protecting local residents. They have promised to take disciplinary action against any military personnel involved in the incident.