IDF Allows Palestinian Residents to Remain in Their Homes in Kusra Amid Settler Clashes

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday that its forces have been positioned in the village of Kusra since the morning to protect residents and maintain security in the area. The IDF emphasized that residents are permitted to stay in their homes and that soldiers will not operate inside the Palestinian family home near the dismantled settler outpost. Civil Administration liaison officers maintain ongoing contact with village leadership to avoid disrupting daily life.

Earlier, security forces demolished two illegal settler outposts in Area B near Kusra and Jalud in the Samaria division overnight, confiscating equipment and detaining one Israeli settler. The clashes began Sunday when dozens of settlers besieged two homes in Kusra, prompting IDF intervention to remove the settlers. The settlers confronted soldiers, dismantled fences, and blocked roads, leading to the declaration of a closed military zone.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Herzog denied reports that the White House intervened directly but confirmed that the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem was actively involved and requested Israeli authorities to act. He condemned the settlers’ actions as criminal and clarified that Washington was kept informed of developments but did not interfere.

The situation highlights ongoing tensions between settlers and Palestinian residents in the West Bank, with the IDF balancing security enforcement and protection of Palestinian villagers’ rights.