Hours after evacuation: settlers returned to homes in Qusra and Jalud
In footage distributed this evening, settlers are seen returning to the area of a house in Qusra, which activists say was placed under siege again after the army left the site. In another video from Jalud, settlers are seen playing soccer in the yard of a house from which they were evacuated this morning, while soldiers watch them.
Settlers returned this evening, Thursday, to the area of the houses in Qusra and Jalud from which they were evacuated earlier today, according to footage distributed by residents and the organization "Looking the Occupation in the Eye." This comes hours after the IDF announced that its forces were deployed in the Qusra area to protect the residents and allow them to remain in their homes.
In footage filmed from inside one of the houses in Qusra, settlers who returned to the site are visible. According to "Looking the Occupation in the Eye," the settlers returned to effectively place the house under siege after IDF forces left the area. Several men from the Abu Rida and Hassan families, the owners of the house, are currently in the house.
In another video received from residents in Jalud, settlers are seen returning to the Tubasi house, from which they were evacuated earlier today, and playing soccer in its yard while soldiers are present and watching them.
The events follow the security forces' destruction overnight of two illegal outposts established in Area B on the outskirts of the villages of Qusra and Jalud in the Samaria Brigade, and the confiscation of equipment that was on site. One Israeli was detained.
Later in the day, the IDF Spokesperson announced that army forces were positioning themselves in the Qusra area for the purpose of protecting the residents and maintaining security in the region. The army clarified that the forces were instructed to allow the residents to remain in their homes and that they would not operate in the Palestinian family's house adjacent to the point where the shed that was evacuated and dismantled had been set up. It was further stated that the Civil Administration's liaison officers are in contact with the village leadership.
The incident in Qusra began on Sunday, when dozens of settlers arrived in the village area and, according to the organization "Yesh Din," placed two houses in Area B under siege. IDF forces that arrived at the scene acted to evacuate the settlers, and during the events, clashes with soldiers, the dismantling of fences, and road blockages were recorded. The area was declared a closed military zone.
According to "Yesh Din," seven Palestinians, including two girls aged four and ten, remained in their homes for three days after access roads were blocked. The organization claimed that the settlers also damaged the houses' electricity and water infrastructure.
The events also drew an unusual response from the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who said that the US Embassy was directly involved and had appealed to the Israeli authorities to take action at the site. Huckabee called the rioters "Israeli terrorists" and defined the acts against the family as criminal.
