Settlers Gather Near Home of US-Palestinian in Besieged West Bank Village

Israeli settlers were reportedly seen near the home of a Palestinian American who has returned to his besieged property in the occupied West Bank. The incident occurred in the village of Qusra, where the standoff has now entered its second week.

Loui Ridi, an Ohio-based owner of one of the houses, arrived back home on Monday to help his family defend the property. The home has been surrounded by settlers for over a week, with groups reportedly preventing residents from leaving several Palestinian houses in the area.

The United States has condemned the siege, and the Israeli military has deployed troops, saying they are there to maintain order. The situation unfolds against a backdrop of rising violence in the West Bank, with settlers, emboldened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government, intensifying attacks on Palestinian towns and villages.

These attacks have included harassment of residents and the burning of homes, mosques, and fields. According to Palestinian health officials, Israeli soldiers and settlers have killed 87 Palestinians so far this year. In the same period, Palestinians have killed three Israelis, including two who died during clashes in the West Bank village of Tell last month.