US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, known for his support of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, condemned on Thursday a siege by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank village of Qusra as a "horrific act of terror." Huckabee described the actions of the settlers as intended to intimidate and harass a Palestinian family, calling them "disgusting."

The siege, ongoing since Sunday near Nablus, involved settlers blockading Palestinian homes, including one owned by a US citizen, cutting off residents from food and other supplies. Huckabee stated that the Israeli army intervened on Wednesday following a request from the United States but failed to remove the settlers. Witnesses reported that while the military removed a tent, settlers remained at the site with blankets.

The Israeli army later announced it would deploy a new battalion to restore order. Huckabee emphasized that Israel's intervention was at the request of the United States, a crucial ally.

Huckabee's remarks are notable given his background as an evangelical Christian pastor who has previously embraced Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and rejected the idea of a Palestinian state. Violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank has increased significantly since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas from the Gaza Strip.

More than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law, alongside approximately three million Palestinians in the territory.

Sources