# US envoy calls West Bank settlers terrorists as siege continues

2026-08-13T19:54:08+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

For five nights, Israeli settlers have surrounded three Palestinian homes in the West Bank village of Qusra, cutting water and electricity and trapping families inside. On Thursday, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee called the settlers 'terrorists', a sharp rebuke from an administration that previously supported settlements. The Israeli military has called the siege 'illegal' and dismantled outposts, but settlers keep returning. Qusai Abu Rida remains trapped with his son while his Palestinian-American brother in Ohio watches via security cameras. The standoff has drawn unusually strong US criticism, potentially complicating Prime Minister Netanyahu's re-election campaign.

## Coverage

- indiatoday.in <https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/west-bank-settler-violence-qusra-siege-us-envoy-terrorists-ptag-2970840-2026-08-14?utm_source=rss>
- english.mathrubhumi.com <https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/world/israeli-settlers-surround-palestinian-homes-qusra-west-bank-xui2p1gt>
- newindianexpress.com <https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2026/Aug/14/israeli-settlers-siege-of-palestinian-homes-draws-a-sharp-us-rebuke>

Tags: Israel, Palestinians, Qusra, Settler violence, US-Israel relations, West Bank
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