Israeli settlers besiege Palestinian family home in West Bank

Israeli settlers have besieged a Palestinian family home on the outskirts of Qusra village, south of Nablus, since Sunday, preventing the residents from entering or leaving. Yousef Hassan, who lives in the house with his wife and two young daughters, told The Times of Israel on Monday that settlers erected a temporary structure in front of his entrance the previous day. Hassan stated he remains trapped inside and reported that the home's electricity lines have been severed. Videos show settlers gathered at the structure, with some attempting to force open a courtyard gate. Hassan, who has lived there for five years, said harassment began seven months ago but has escalated significantly over the last two days. He is currently seeking a way to evacuate his family due to the perceived threat. Footage indicates that Israeli soldiers visited the site on Sunday and prayed alongside the settlers before departing without removing the structure or the individuals involved. The Israeli military did not respond to requests for comment. Doron Meinert of the group 'Looking the Occupation in the Eye' stated that the family is being held captive by armed settlers aiming to force them to abandon their property. This follows a similar incident last month in the nearby village of Jalud, where settlers besieged a home for over two weeks until the family fled; the settlers remain in that property. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric noted in June that over 2,200 Palestinians have been displaced this year due to settler violence or access restrictions. According to data from the Israeli public broadcaster Kan, incidents of 'nationalist crime' by extremist settlers in the West Bank rose by 63 percent in the first half of this year, reaching 660 cases. Security agencies have classified these acts as terrorism. During the same period, 140 Palestinians were injured and six were killed in settler-related violence, compared to 82 injuries and no fatalities in the first half of last year.