Nahost: Zehn Tage Belagerung: Palästinenser harren in Kusra aus

In Kusra, a West Bank village besieged by radical Israeli settlers for ten days, residents remain trapped in their homes as Israeli army and police have yet to lift the blockade, confirmed by the village's mayor, Abdul Asim al-Wadi. The head of one of the besieged homes, a dual US citizen, returned from the US on Monday to defend the building.

Palestinians fear a violent takeover of their family's homes by the settlers if they flee. Video footage from Monday evening showed Luai Abu Rida hoisting a US flag from the roof. Mayor al-Wadi stated that Abu Rida's arrival was coordinated with the army, although they managed to restore water and electricity supply to the homes, concerns remain about food and medicine supplies dwindling.

On Sunday, UNICEF provided the family with aid such as water, food, medicine, hygiene items, and educational and recreational materials for children. Israeli violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has been on the rise in recent years, with the Israeli military frequently accused of not being sufficiently aggressive in dealing with such attacks.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the army to transfer authority for enforcing civil law to the police in relation to Israeli settlers. He stated that the army's role is to combat Palestinian terrorism and protect borders and settlements from threats. Right-wing Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a long-standing supporter of the settler movement, is seen as unlikely to see more decisive action from the police against violent settlers compared to the army.