IDF soldiers were stationed outside Palestinian homes in Qusra, south of Nablus, that have been besieged for the past week, blocking the occupants from leaving while apparently attempting to prevent settlers from returning, a resident said Sunday.

The residents of two homes on the outskirts of Qusra had been under siege since August 9, when settler extremists surrounded the buildings in an apparent effort to compel their residents – including young children – to flee.

The siege sparked an IDF operation late last week in which the army temporarily relocated the Hassan and Abu Ridi families in order to remove the settlers. The families were later allowed to return.

However, Yusuf Hassan told The Times of Israel that soldiers had then prohibited him from leaving his home due to a closed military zone order issued for the area, essentially leaving the siege in place. He added that he feared that as soon as IDF troops leave the area, the settlers would return and once again block the homes.

There was no comment from the IDF.

For the past three days, soldiers have been staying in a building next to one of the besieged homes to keep settlers from returning, though it’s unclear to what extent they have truly kept away.

Footage provided to The Times of Israel on Sunday showed what appeared to be settlers near homes on the outskirts of Qusra.

In the footage, an ATV was seen traveling on dirt roads a few hundred meters from the homes, in an area that has been declared a closed military zone. The ATV is of a type used by extremist settler groups setting up wildcat outposts across the West Bank.

חזל"ש להיעדר המתנחלים מהאזור – הם שוב נצפו pic.twitter.com/W2lUkm9crI — Nurit Yohanan (@nurityohanan) August 16, 2026

חזל"ש להיעדר המתנחלים מהאזור – הם שוב נצפו pic.twitter.com/W2lUkm9crI

— Nurit Yohanan (@nurityohanan) August 16, 2026

United Nations representatives arrived at homes Sunday, bringing residents........

© The Times of Israel