Under Israeli Control: Why Palestinian Families in a West Bank Village Were Ordered to Leave Their Homes
Image source, EPA
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In a village located in the Israeli-controlled West Bank, approximately a dozen Palestinian families have been ordered to leave their homes amid efforts to remove Israeli settlers living there.
Israeli settlers have reportedly surrounded three homes, cutting off water and electricity supplies starting Sunday.
Abdel Azim Wadi, the mayor of Kusra, stated that their village has been declared a closed military zone and that some evacuated homes are being used by the Israeli military as barracks. The Israeli military has claimed that these measures are taken to ensure the safety of the residents.
Additionally, residents of 11 more houses have also been ordered to evacuate.
Public videos show about a dozen Israeli security vehicles and a bulldozer present in the village. One video shows a long line of Israeli security personnel on the road leading to the Palestinian village.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that two illegal outposts have been dismantled.
They also reported the arrest of one Israeli near the outskirts of Kusra and Jalud, along with the confiscation of some equipment.
What the Villagers Say
Image source, Reuters
Among those ordered to leave, Kawhar Odeh recounted that on Thursday morning, over 20 soldiers entered her home.
“My brother and I were sleeping when they came shouting, ‘Open the door!’ and broke it down. I still cannot understand what happened while this took place right before my eyes.”
“They were forcibly evicting many people,” Odeh said.
After roughly 10 hours, some families were permitted to return home, only to find their belongings in disarray.
One resident reported that soldiers had discarded all the food from the refrigerator and that $1,500 in cash was stolen.
What the Israeli Military Says
The IDF has not responded to these allegations in inquiries.
“Residents of Kusra were instructed to remain in their homes,” the IDF stated.
“Liaison officers are in continuous contact with local leadership to ensure residents’ daily lives are not disrupted,” they added.
Following the cut-off of water and electricity due to the siege, the Palestinian community appealed for assistance on social media Sunday.
Clashes Also Occurred
Tensions escalated Wednesday as Israeli security forces arrived to remove settlers. A video obtained shows clashes between the army, border police, and settlers, with security forces deploying tear gas and stun grenades.
It is difficult to estimate exactly what the Israeli settlers in Kusra seek, though they have historically forcibly displaced Palestinians to seize property.
Their declared goal appears to be the removal of Palestinian residents from the area.
International law recognizes these settlements as illegal, yet Israel has been observed to encourage their expansion.
United Nations data shows that this year, 76 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank.