IDF Orders Palestinian Families to Evacuate Homes in Kusra for Military Operation

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are set to evacuate Palestinian families from their homes in the village of Kusra as part of a military operation expected to last until Sunday. This development follows a recent siege imposed on a Palestinian house in the village. According to journalist Doron Kadosh, the IDF informed the village head about the operation, which involves clearing Palestinian residents from their homes to use the buildings for military purposes, described as "defensive houses." One of the evacuated homes is the same house that was recently besieged by rioters. The evacuation order was issued this morning by the commander of the Shomron Brigade. This move comes just one day after Central Command Chief Aviv Kochavi personally assured the family that the IDF would protect them and prevent their eviction.

The head of the Kusra council stated that a total of 16 Palestinian homes are expected to be evacuated during the operation. The planned evacuation occurs amid widespread international criticism, including from the U.S. government, regarding the IDF's conduct in the village in recent days. The previous evening, Aviv Kochavi, accompanied by IDF and Border Police forces, arrived in Kusra to dismantle an Israeli settler outpost established three days earlier. The outpost is an extension of the "Tel Talpiot" settlement and is located near the area where Palestinian homes were under siege. Upon the forces' arrival, settlers blocked access roads to the village with large rocks in an attempt to hinder the military operation.