France Condemns Qusra Siege
France Urges Israel to Prosecute Settlers and End Siege on Palestinian Homes in Qusra
Key Points
Ras al-Ain area in Qusra has seen settlers re-erect a tent in front of Palestinian homes to continue the siege, with Israeli forces blocking international solidarity activists from reaching three homes to document violations and the Abu Rida family home under siege for six days.
On the same day France issued its condemnation, Israel reopened a settlement in the northern West Bank, more than two decades after it was dismantled.
Besieged residents of Ras al-Ain, including children, face blocked access routes and restricted basic services due to an illegal settlement outpost.
Five Italians were reportedly among those under siege in Qusra, including four women and one man, as confirmed by ANSA.
France has called on Israel to arrest and prosecute settlers who seized Palestinian homes in Qusra, a village south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, according to TRT World. The French Foreign Ministry condemned the takeover and urged Israeli authorities to protect Palestinian civilians under siege.
The Abu Rida family home has been under siege for six days, with settlers re-erecting a tent outside to prolong the blockade, Middle East Monitor reported. Residents, including children, have had access to water and electricity cut off by an illegal settlement outpost nearby.
France Demands Arrests as Siege Enters Sixth Day
The French Foreign Ministry issued a clear demand: Israeli authorities must arrest and prosecute the settlers responsible. Paris also called on Israel to ensure Palestinian civilians can access basic services and move freely, according to Voice of Emirates. French officials framed the demand around international humanitarian law.
Israeli forces blocked international solidarity activists from reaching three besieged homes in the Ras al-Ain area of Qusra. The activists had gone to document violations on the ground, TRT World reported. Their access was denied, leaving residents with little outside support.
Five Italians Among Those Trapped in Qusra
Italy is also watching the situation closely. Five Italian nationals — four women and one man — are reportedly among those under siege in Qusra, according to Head Topics, citing ANSA. Rome said it is actively monitoring the scenario as international concern grows.
The presence of foreign nationals has raised the diplomatic stakes. Italy's involvement adds another layer of international pressure on Israel to act. France and Italy are now among the loudest European voices calling for accountability in the West Bank.
Israel Reopens Old Settlement on the Same Day
The timing made France's condemnation even sharper. On the same day Paris issued its statement, Israel reopened a settlement in the northern West Bank that had been dismantled more than two decades ago, TRT World reported. Critics called the move a direct challenge to international calls for restraint.
The reopening signals a broader push by settlers to expand their presence in the West Bank. It comes as multiple villages, including Qusra, face mounting pressure from illegal outposts. International observers say the pattern points to a systematic effort to displace Palestinian families.
Growing International Pressure but No Action Yet
France's call is the latest in a string of international rebukes over settler violence in the West Bank. Saba reported that the French Foreign Ministry stressed the urgency of protecting Palestinian civilians from ongoing settler attacks. So far, Israeli authorities have not announced any arrests tied to the Qusra siege.
Human rights groups say the Qusra case is part of a wider pattern. Settlers backed by illegal outposts have blockaded Palestinian homes in multiple West Bank villages. France's demand for prosecution is firm, but enforcement remains in Israel's hands — and no action has been taken.
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