Ambassador Huckabee Condemns Settler Siege of Palestinian Homes

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned a days-long siege of Palestinian homes in the West Bank village of Qusra, characterizing the actions of Jewish settler extremists as an act of terror and criminal behavior. Settlers used rocks and tents to block three homes, including one owned by a dual U.S. citizen, cutting off water, electricity, and critical supplies in an attempt to seize the land.

Following requests from the U.S. Embassy, the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police entered the area on Thursday to remove the extremists. The Israeli military reported dismantling two illegal outposts on the outskirts of Qusra and Jalud, confiscating equipment, and detaining one Israeli. Reports indicated the Israeli army had previously placed the broader village under siege to prevent outside assistance from reaching the trapped families.

While Huckabee coordinated the removal of the settlers, a senior White House official told KAN News that the U.S. believes Israel is not doing enough to prevent settler violence. The official stated an intention to ask the Prime Minister's Office why the security establishment has failed to control the situation. The incident occurs amid a pattern of intensifying settler violence and land seizures under the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.