Kathmandu— Residents of the Palestinian village of Qusra in the occupied West Bank have been ordered to evacuate their homes following a prolonged siege and repeated attacks by Israeli settlers, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declaring the area a closed military zone citing civilian protection as the reason for the action. Han Abdul Karim Hassan, a resident of Qusra, described how the IDF arrived alongside settlers, ordering residents to leave their properties after weeks of escalating intimidation and disruption of essential services. The situation has unfolded against a backdrop of increasing settler violence since the start of the Gaza war following Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel.

Escalating Violence and Siege

Han Abdul Karim Hassan recounted that Jewish settlers established an outpost near Qusra in January, initiating daily attacks and intimidation tactics. He detailed how settlers destroyed property, including farm gates and house doors, blocked roads, and disrupted essential supplies of electricity, water, and food. “That situation has been going on for two weeks, and they still haven’t resolved it,” Hassan said, adding that his children were exhausted from being confined to their home. He described a moment when he warned his daughter not to leave the house, fearing for her safety.

IDF Declaration of Military Zone

According to Hassan, the IDF entered Qusra while accompanied by settlers and subsequently declared the village a closed military zone. When questioning the soldiers about their presence amidst the settler activity, he stated they were told to evacuate immediately. The IDF claims this measure is intended to protect civilians, but residents view it as enabling further violence and displacement.

West Bank Settlements and International Law

The West Bank has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Six-Day War and is home to approximately 3 million Palestinians and 500,000 Israelis residing in settlements. These settlements are considered illegal under international law, a position Israel disputes, maintaining that the territory is disputed with deep historical ties to the Jewish people. Earlier this year, Israel allocated 1.3 billion shekels ($431 million) for the construction of 34 new West Bank settlements, drawing criticism from the UN, Arab nations, and EU members. Settler violence against Palestinians has increased since the outbreak of the Gaza war.

Recent Surge in Violence

The current situation in Qusra is part of a broader pattern of escalating settler violence in the West Bank following Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza. The IDF's response, as described by residents, has been perceived as insufficient to protect Palestinians from these attacks.

The situation in Qusra remains tense as residents await a resolution to the siege and settler violence, with no immediate indication of when they will be allowed to return to their homes.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.