For the tenth consecutive day, the Israeli army continues to close the area of Ras Al-Ain in the town of Qusra, southeast of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, amid rising tensions between residents and settlers.

Disruption of Residents' Movement

Local residents confirmed that the restrictions imposed on the area continue to disrupt the movement of residents and access to several homes. Residents complained about the prevention of solidarity activists and delegations from reaching them, while the movement of settlers around the homes continues.

The crisis in "Qusra" has turned in recent days into a matter of international concern, with an American Palestinian family among those affected. The Associated Press reported today (Tuesday) that a Palestinian holding American citizenship returned from Ohio to "Qusra" to join his family, whose home has been under siege by settlers for more than a week.

Closed Military Zone

The crisis began with settlers besieging three Palestinian homes, cutting off water and electricity, and restricting the movement of their occupants, before the occupation army declared the area a "closed military zone." They sent reinforcements to the area and dismantled two illegal settlement outposts near "Qusra" and "Jaloud."

The way the occupation army dealt with the settlers sparked widespread criticism, especially after footage showed soldiers interacting with them without decisively removing them, while restrictions were imposed on the movement of Palestinians. The Associated Press confirmed the continued presence of forces and the closure of the area, with tensions remaining around the homes.

Washington has intervened in the crisis. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, sharply criticized the settlers involved in the siege of the homes, marking a notable American stance regarding the events in "Qusra."

Hotspot of Tension for Months

The events of August are not the first confrontation in the Ras Al-Ain area. Last February, settlers established a new pastoral outpost located between 300 and 500 meters from Palestinian homes in the area, amid complaints of assaults and restrictions on residents' access to their lands.

On July 26, a mosque in "Qusra" was burned, and Hebrew phrases were written on its walls, while the Israeli army stated at the time that the suspects fled before its forces arrived and announced the opening of an investigation into the incident.

The crisis in "Qusra" coincides with a broader escalation of settler violence in the West Bank.

According to UN data reported by the American agency, "Qusra" recorded a number of settler attacks in 2026 that exceeded any other Palestinian gathering in the West Bank, making the town one of the most prominent hotspots of tension in recent months.