Kathmandu— Loai Ridi, an American citizen visiting family, is currently trapped inside his home in Qusra, a village in the occupied West Bank, as it remains under siege by Israeli settlers and occupation forces for weeks. The situation exemplifies a pattern of restrictions and violence against Palestinians in Area B – a zone established under the Oslo II Accord intended to be jointly administered but increasingly controlled by Israel. While humanitarian aid is permitted, full freedom of movement is denied, and the area functions as a closed military zone, raising concerns about ethnic cleansing and the viability of a two-state solution.

Area B: A Broken Promise

The 1995 Oslo II Accord divided the West Bank into three administrative areas. Area A, comprising 18 percent of the territory, is under Palestinian control; Area B, around 22 percent, grants the Palestinian Authority civil administration with Israel maintaining security dominance; and Area C, over 60 percent, remains under full Israeli control. This map was intended as a temporary measure, with Area C slated for eventual transfer to Palestinian jurisdiction. However, Israel has instead expanded settlements and restricted access in Area C, effectively fragmenting Areas A and B into isolated pockets. Qusra’s built-up area falls within Area B, while much of its agricultural land is in Area C, creating a complex dynamic where Israeli military zones and settler activity routinely override Palestinian civil authority.

Systematic Restrictions and Displacement

The siege of Qusra is not an isolated incident. Reports indicate a pattern of sieges, water and electricity sabotage, closed military zones, and the protection of settlers by Israeli forces across the West Bank. Rights groups have documented thousands of Palestinians displaced due to colonial violence and access restrictions this year alone. This method – surrounding homes, cutting off access, permitting limited aid during media coverage, and waiting for families to leave – is described as a deliberate strategy of ethnic cleansing. The legal framework meant to protect Palestinian civilians in Area B is routinely suspended when it conflicts with Israeli objectives.

International Law Ignored

The actions in Qusra and elsewhere violate numerous international laws, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits transferring civilian populations into occupied territory and destroying property. UN Security Council resolutions also condemn settlements as illegal and call for withdrawal from territories occupied since 1967. The International Court of Justice recently affirmed the illegality of the occupation itself and called on third states to refrain from assisting in its maintenance. Despite these rulings, Israel continues to expand settlements – including tenders for over 1,200 housing units in the E1 corridor threatening a contiguous Palestinian state – while Western governments issue statements of concern but fail to impose meaningful consequences.

Western Complicity and Double Standards

The United States and European nations are criticized for maintaining economic ties with Israel despite its violations of international law. While expressing support for a two-state solution, these countries have been reluctant to implement sanctions or hold Israel accountable for its actions. Germany and Italy, in particular, have repeatedly blocked stronger EU measures. This perceived hypocrisy extends to domestic policies, with some European leaders simultaneously condemning settlements while adopting anti-immigrant rhetoric that echoes the same exclusionary logic used to justify the occupation.

Escalating Cruelty in Gaza and the West Bank

The situation in Qusra mirrors a broader trend of escalating restrictions and violence. In Gaza, even children’s activities like flying kites have been militarized, with Israel threatening strikes against those deemed responsible. Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, has called for an international protection presence to halt the violence and end the defiance of international law. However, such calls remain unanswered due to Security Council paralysis and a lack of political will from powerful nations.

Loai Ridi remains under siege in Qusra as of this writing, awaiting the promised lifting of restrictions that have yet to materialize. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges to Palestinian life in Area B and the broader failure of international efforts to enforce accountability and achieve a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

(With inputs from CounterPunch)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.