Kathmandu— Israeli authorities installed three new roadblocks at Ras al-Ain hill near the occupied West Bank village of Qusra on Wednesday, further restricting movement for Palestinian residents who have already been under siege by Israeli settlers since August 9. The metal gates, placed on concrete blocks, are becoming increasingly common throughout the West Bank and are controlled exclusively by Israeli forces, effectively tightening a blockade that locals fear will become permanent. These new barriers build upon an existing gate at the village entrance and sever connections to neighboring communities while isolating homes on the hilltop.

Entrenching the Siege

The newly erected roadblocks encircle the top of Ras al-Ain hill, disconnecting the besieged homes from the land below. One gate blocks access to the home of Loui Ridi, a Palestinian-American who returned from Ohio to protect his property after the siege began; he has been unable to leave since arriving on August 17. Another is near a house under construction, and a third sits above another being built. These barriers also render a road connecting Qusra with neighboring villages Talfit and Jalud unusable.

Loss of Land and Resources

Abdel Hakim Wadi fears he has permanently lost access to his one-hectare plot of land near the new roadblocks, which includes over 100 olive trees, almond and fig trees, and a water well. He alleges that Israeli settlers are now using the well’s water for their own purposes, stating, “I see them bathing in the water that they’re taking out from the well.” Wadi believes Israel intends to gradually seize more land in the West Bank.

Calls for International Intervention

Loui Ridi has repeatedly appealed to the US embassy and the international community to end the siege, expressing frustration with the lack of concrete action despite widespread condemnation of the settlers’ actions. “We have been calling on the US embassy … or the international community to end the siege,” he said. He previously told Al Jazeera that while there is much talk, little has been done to address the situation on the ground.

Residents fear the Israeli authorities will maintain a military presence in the area even if the official ‘siege’ designation is lifted, effectively replacing settler activity with army control and continuing the de facto land grab.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.