Five Italians evacuated from besieged Palestinian village of Qusra in West Bank

Siege at Qusra

Israeli settlers have besieged Palestinian homes in the village of Qusra, south of Nablus in the West Bank, 75 km from Jerusalem, with five Italian activists among those trapped inside. The Italians, four women and one man aged between 20 and 40, had been present since Sunday to "bring solidarity," according to Repubblica. They were staying with Qusay Abu Ridi, a Palestinian resident who holds US citizenship; his brother has reported the siege from the United States. Among the Italian activists, some had prior experience in Palestine while others were visiting for the first time, according to Il Fatto Quotidiano. The Italian foreign ministry, through its Crisis Unit and in coordination with the Jerusalem consulate and the Tel Aviv embassy, has been monitoring the situation. Eleven people were inside the besieged homes, including the five Italians.

Evacuation of the Italians

On the morning of 14 August, Israeli border police evacuated the five Italians from the besieged home. They left "tranquilly," without force or violence, according to informed sources cited by ANSA. The activists are now guests in a Palestinian friend's house elsewhere in Qusra, where no settlers are present. One activist, identified by the pseudonym Magda for security reasons, described the experience to ANSA.

We were with the Palestinian family besieged by settlers in Qusra from the very first day, it was Sunday. We had arrived there to see the situation and try to understand, then the extremists arrived and set up the tent in the villa's courtyard. We stayed with the family. This morning the Israeli border police evacuated us.

Conditions inside the besieged homes

The two small children from the family were evacuated in recent days by an ambulance that also delivered food and water. As of 14 August, four men and two women remain inside the building. The homes have been without electricity and water, according to Tgcom24, with settlers arriving from early morning, three or four at first, then growing in number each day, undisturbed. The siege has drawn attention from the United States, and media pressure on Israel is mounting.

Settlers, soldiers and activists

Magda reported that on the morning of 14 August, a small group of Jewish extremists returned to the courtyard and remounted the tent that Israeli security forces had previously dismantled. Four soldiers then arrived, spoke with the settlers, and gave them time to leave. Additional military personnel subsequently removed the tent again, according to an IDF spokesperson. Around 50 Israeli activists arrived carrying a Palestinian flag and food, but soldiers turned them away after the area was declared a military zone. Qusay Abu Ridi told the Times of Israel that border police prevented the activists from entering and delivering the food.

This morning about 50 Israeli activists arrived, they had a Palestinian flag, they brought food but then they were sent away by the soldiers because that was declared a military zone.

What happens next

The Italians were told they could return on Saturday morning at 10, but another soldier informed them that the area would remain a military zone until March 2027. When the activists asked the military how the family would obtain necessities, the soldiers replied that the family also had the option to leave. France condemned the settler occupation of Palestinian homes, with the Quai d'Orsay spokesperson calling on Israeli authorities to arrest and prosecute those responsible. Tgcom24 reported that Cardinal Pizzaballa will celebrate Mass at Taybeh on 15 August.