The Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem has warned on Wednesday against attempts by extremist settlers to forcibly displace two Palestinian families from their homes in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus, and seize their properties, stating that such practices are part of an accelerating Israeli policy of ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.
Citing B’Tselem, Anadolu Agency reported that extremist settlers established illegal outposts in the courtyards of the two homes over the past few days and continue to besiege them, noting that their clear objective is to force the two families to leave their homes and take them over.
Anadolu quoted the organisation’s executive director Yuli Novak as saying that the Qusra violations do not constitute “an isolated incident,” adding that “Israeli ethnic cleansing in the West Bank is accelerating and expanding in full view of everyone.”
B’Tselem said that Israeli authorities have neither removed the extremist settlers from the site nor taken measures to protect the families. It noted that dozens of extremist settlers blocked the access road to the homes on Wednesday as part of the ongoing blockade and efforts to cement the new outpost.
The organisation further highlighted that video footage captured last Sunday shows extremist settlers and occupation soldiers praying together at the outpost established by the settlers adjacent to the homes in Qusra.
