US Urges Netanyahu to Condemn Settlers Besieging Palestinian Homes in West Bank
FlatRigor 5018 sources
The Story
The United States urges Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn Israeli settlers besieging Palestinian homes in Qusra. France calls for the arrest and prosecution of these settlers. Residents in Qusra remain cut off from food and other supplies. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports over 900 physical obstacles, including Israeli checkpoints, gates, and roadblocks, delay and limit aid to the West Bank. OCHA states aid workers struggle to access three Palestinian families in Qusra, Nablus governorate, trapped since Tuesday. Settlers established an outpost next to their homes, tightening access restrictions, and attempts to deliver food, water, milk formula, medicines, and hygiene items have been unsuccessful. Settlers reinstalled a tent that Israeli forces had dismantled yesterday. Activists marched toward the besieged homes on Friday to replenish dwindling supplies. Israeli forces prevented Israeli and foreign peace activists from delivering supplies directly to a besieged Palestinian home. Activists left water and food near one house where two Palestinian families have been trapped since Sunday, with power and water supplies cut off. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied preventing aid transfer, stating Qusra is a closed military zone for Israeli civilians. The IDF said soldiers removed a tent erected by Israeli civilians on Friday. About a dozen Palestinian households were told to leave their properties on Thursday during an operation to disperse settlers. Qusra Mayor Abdul Azim Wadi said Israeli forces are using some vacated Palestinian houses as barracks. The Israeli military said its aim was to protect the residents and soldiers were instructed that the Qusra residents will remain in their homes. A spokesperson described settler actions as deplorable and unacceptable. Amnesty International's Erika Guevara Rosas stated the events in Qusra reflect relentless escalation and expansion of an accelerating and well-documented pattern of coordinated and strategic settler terror, enabled, backed, and funded by the state of Israel. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) condemned criminal actions by the settlers, supported or acquiesced to by Israel, aimed at forcing families to leave.
The Spread
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What they agree on
- Israeli settlers have besieged Palestinian homes in the village of Qusra in the West Bank for nearly a week.
- The besieged Palestinian families in Qusra have had their power and water supplies cut off and are running out of food and other basic necessities.
- Activists have attempted to deliver aid and supplies to the besieged families, but access has been restricted or prevented by Israeli forces.
- The United States has urged Israeli Prime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to condemn the settlers' actions, while France has called for their arrest and prosecution.
- The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have condemned the actions of the settlers and the obstacles to aid delivery.
Where they split
- RT (Russia Today) includes direct quotes from besieged Palestinian residents recounting specific threats and orders to evacuate, while other outlets focus on broader statements from international bodies.
- The Guardian and Middle East Eye highlight Israel's defense minister's plan to transfer law enforcement powers in the West Bank to the police, framing it as a step towards annexation, a detail less emphasized in other reports.
- BBC News and The Australian report on Israeli forces preventing activists from delivering aid directly, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied this, stating they did not prevent aid transfer but declared Qusra a "closed military zone."
- ANSA (English) specifically reports on five Italians being among the besieged Palestinians and their subsequent relocation to a house not under siege, a detail not present in other coverage.
Source Perspectives
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