Israeli illegal settlers have continued to besiege three Palestinian homes in the northern occupied West Bank town of Qusra for the ninth consecutive day, as the Israeli forces extended their ongoing military assault in the area until Tuesday evening, the mayor said.
Since August 9, Israeli illegal settlers have laid a siege around three Palestinian families, comprising around 13 people, in the Ras al-Ain area of the town, obstructing the delivery of food, water and basic supplies under the protection of Israeli forces.
“Three Palestinian homes in the Jabal Ras al-Ain area in Qusra remain under siege for the ninth day,” Mayor Abdul Azim al-Wadi told Anadolu on Monday.
He said municipal authorities, in cooperation with international institutions, managed to deliver water, food and electricity to the besieged families on Sunday, calling the situation in the town "difficult".
Wadi said the Israeli forces also extended their military offensive in Qusra until Tuesday evening, after it was planned to end Sunday morning.
He said the forces claimed that they were deployed in the town to allegedly expel the Israeli illegal settlers and lift the siege on Palestinians there.
“Instead, the forces took over one of the houses in the town and turned it into a military barracks,” he added.
“Residents do not sleep, neither at night nor during the day,” Wadi said.
“The Israeli forces could have arrested or expelled Israeli illegal settlers if they were willing to, but the forces are a partner in the operation.”
The Ras al-Ain area has seen repeated attacks by Israeli illegal settlers in recent months to establish an illegal settlement outpost and seize Palestinian land and homes.
Palestinian bodies have warned that the siege could become a tool to displace residents and take over their property.
