Palestinian-American Landlord Returns to Besieged West Bank Home

QUSRA, West Bank — Loui Ridi, a Palestinian-American from Ohio, returned to the West Bank on Monday to join his family in defending their home in Qusra, which has been under siege by Israeli settlers for over a week. Settlers have surrounded several Palestinian houses in the village, preventing families from leaving.

The United States condemned these actions, and the Israeli military has deployed troops, claiming to maintain order. The situation in the West Bank has worsened recently, with increased violence from settlers supported by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government. These attacks include harassment, arson of homes, mosques, and fields. According to Palestinian health officials, 87 Palestinians have died this year due to conflict, while Palestinians have killed three Israelis, two of whom died in clashes in the village of Tell last month.

As Ridi arrived in Israel, footage from his brother showed settlers near Qusra, driving ATVs and interacting with soldiers. Ridi had monitored the events through his home security cameras from the U.S. “I’ve been watching this live for many days and now this is the second week. I can’t sleep,” he told reporters at Israel’s main international airport. He expressed determination to protect his property despite the challenge, stating, “I can’t let the settlers steal my house while I was watching.”

Upon arriving in Qusra on Monday evening, Ridi reunited with his mother and sister before heading to his home, which his brother, Qusai Abu Rida, and his teenage son continued to protect. Ridi was waiting for a military escort to access his property. He noticed little change since the siege began, despite the area being declared a closed military zone. Footage still captured soldiers interacting with settlers. Ridi emphasized his right to freely access his home, describing the situation as “a frustration and a nightmare for the entire family.”