'We are seeing the cracks of Israeli politics play out in the West Bank'

International criticism is intensifying as Israeli settlers continue to blockade a Palestinian village in the West Bank, despite mounting concerns from the international community. The siege has been ongoing for five days now, with reports suggesting that Israel may launch a military operation in the village. Israeli forces reportedly began evicting Palestinians from their homes in the area, while allowing the settlers to remain, despite expressing "grave concern" over their actions on Wednesday.

Approximately 20 Palestinians in the village of Qusra were forced out of their homes on Thursday morning, according to Israeli news outlet Haaretz. Families living in the besieged properties who have been issued eviction orders are refusing to vacate, as the military reportedly prepares to carry out a three-day operation in the region.

The military has not yet confirmed these reports, stating that it dismantled two nearby settler outposts overnight, though settlers are still present in the area. They had previously confiscated some settler belongings outside homes in Qusra but eventually withdrew. Soldiers have also been spotted praying alongside the attacking settlers.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee labeled the attacking settlers as "Israeli terrorists" but downplayed a report that the White House was requesting clarification from Israel about the circumstances surrounding the siege. "The actions carried out by those who perpetrated this horrific act of terror, intended to intimidate and harass this family, are utterly disgusting.

There is no justification for such thuggish behavior," Mr Huckabee stated. The Israeli military revealed on Wednesday that an "incident" at a house in Qusra continues, and commanders "expressed grave concern over the actions taken by Israeli civilians against the Palestinian family." They further decided to take disciplinary action against the security personnel involved, who were documented at the site several days ago.

Israeli journalist Doron Kadosh reported that the operation in Qusra aims to remove Palestinians and seize their homes, calling it an unprecedented move amid widespread international condemnation, including from the US administration due to the military's failure to protect Palestinians in the village. In July, settlers forcibly evicted a Palestinian family from their home in the village of Jalud, which the settlers have occupied ever since.

On Thursday, settlers also initiated the return of Ganim in the northern West Bank, one of the four settlements in the area that was evacuated under the 2005 Disengagement Law, which also emptied all settlements in Gaza. The law was amended in 2023, allowing Israelis to return to the West Bank settlements. Recent polling indicates that 38% of Jewish Israelis support annexing the West Bank, while 22% believe Palestinians should be relocated after annexation.