Israeli settlers continue siege of Palestinian homes in Qusra

<p> NABLUS: Israeli settlers continued besieging three Palestinian homes in Qusra, south of Nablus, for the 15th consecutive day on Sunday, under the protection of Israeli forces.<br /> In the Ras Al-Ain area of Qusra, settlers kept surrounding the three homes while Israeli forces barred residents from entering or leaving the area.<br /> The three families face water shortages, as settlers have blocked the roads leading to their homes and prevented water deliveries.</p> <div class=injected-block block-wrapper block-custom-bg padding-1 bottom-spacer--m> <div class=block-title text-left separator-left-above style-v2> <h4> <strong><span class=chars-style>BACK</span>GROUND</strong></h4> </div> <div class=block-content> <div class=with-separator> <p> <strong>The settlers cut electricity to Palestinian homes and attacked municipal workers who had tried to restore services earlier.</strong></p> </div> </div> </div> <p> Israeli forces also turned one of the homes into a military outpost and damaged its furniture and belongings after throwing them out of the windows.<br /> The siege follows weeks of escalating pressure on the families. </p> <p> Before it began, settlers had set up a tent near one home, blocked access to it, and prevented food and other essential supplies from reaching the residents. <br /> They also cut electricity to the homes and attacked municipal workers who had tried to restore services earlier. <br /> The families have been living in the homes around the clock in shifts to protect them after settlers repeatedly tried over several months to enter and seize the properties. <br /> After these actions, Israeli forces closed roads leading to the Ras al-Ain area and declared it a closed military zone. <br /> Meanwhile, settlers installed two additional mobile homes in the village of Burin, south of Nablus.<br /> Local sources reported that settlers raided the Khallet Sewar area, south of Burin, and installed two more mobile homes there.<br /> Earlier, the settlers had established an outpost in the area and installed several mobile homes there.<br /> Burin and neighboring villages south of Nablus have faced repeated attacks and land seizures by Israeli settlers, including unauthorized outposts and restrictions on Palestinians' access to agricultural lands.<br /> The expansion of such outposts is often accompanied by mobile homes, fencing, and access roads, gradually creating permanent facts on the ground and increasing pressure on nearby Palestinian communities.</p> <p> </p>