Palestinian-American returns to West Bank home as settler siege enters 11th day

A Palestinian-American man has returned to his family home in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra, hoping to shield it from Israeli settlers who have surrounded the property for nearly two weeks. Loui Ridi, a 46-year-old resident of Ohio, arrived on Monday and raised an American flag on the roof of his second home.

Israeli soldiers have deployed to the area and declared it a closed military zone. While troops have cleared settlers from the immediate vicinity of the house, Ridi said he spotted at least three settlers close enough to pose a threat to his family if the military withdraws. He is currently barred from leaving his property line, and cannot buy groceries without permission.

The standoff, now in its 11th day, has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli rights groups, Palestinian officials, and international figures, including the U.S. ambassador to Israel. The United States, Israel's closest ally, has condemned the siege.

Palestinian officials report nearly 1,500 settler attacks this year and say 87 Palestinians have been killed by settlers or Israeli soldiers. Three Israelis have also been killed, including two in a nearby clash last month. Violent settlers in the West Bank rarely face arrest or prosecution, according to Palestinian officials.

Around 560,000 Israeli settlers live in communities and outposts across the territory, where roughly 2.8 million Palestinians live under Israeli military rule. The international community largely views settlements as illegal and an obstacle to peace. Ridi has asked U.S. officials to help guarantee he can bring supplies into the closed military zone.