Palestinian American returns to besieged West Bank home but Israeli settlers remain

Loui Ridi, a Palestinian-American property owner from Ohio, returned to his home in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra on Monday after over a week of being besieged by Israeli settlers. Upon his arrival, Ridi confronted the settlers on his property, demanding Israeli forces remove them from the area. However, he was told to enter his home as the zone was a closed military zone.

Israeli soldiers also asked the settlers to leave, but Ridi observed at least three settlers attempting to return and threaten his family if the army left. Ridi threatened to leave his home as well, claiming he needed permission and coordination to do so, which could take hours. The encounter highlighted the ongoing struggle to clear the area of settlers, with Ridi noting that if the soldiers left, the settlers might return soon after.

The Qusra standoff is the latest incident of violence in the West Bank, where extremist settlers have been attacking villages and setting property on fire, emboldened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government. Despite the international attention the Qusra siege has received, it is not the only such incident; settlers have also taken over other Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank.

Palestinian officials have reported 87 Palestinians killed by settlers or soldiers this year, with three Israelis killed in recent clashes.