Settlers have been surrounding the home of a Palestinian family on the outskirts of the village of Qusra, south of Nablus, preventing the family from entering or leaving since Sunday, residents said.

Youssef Hassan, the homeowner, who lives there with his wife and their two young daughters, aged two and four, told The Times of Israel by phone on Monday that settlers erected a makeshift structure in front of the entrance to his home a day earlier and have since prevented anyone from entering or leaving, leaving him trapped inside. He said they also cut the electricity lines.

Video footage shows settlers gathered in the structure near the house. In another clip, they can be seen attempting to open one of the gates to the yard.

Hassan said he has lived in the house for five years. Settlers began coming to the property and harassing the family around seven months ago, he said, but the situation escalated over the past two days when they blocked the access routes to the home.

He added that he is trying to find a way to get his wife and daughters out of the house because of the danger he said the settlers pose to them.

Soldiers were filmed Sunday arriving at the structure erected by the settlers and praying with them. According to Hassan, they later left without removing the settlers.

מתנחלים צרים כבר יממה על בית משפחה פלסטינית שמתגוררת בקצה הכפר קוסרה דרומית לשכם ומונעים מבני הבית לצאת או להיכנס. יוסוף חסאן, בעל הבית שגר עם אשתו ושתי בנותיו הקטנות – בנות שנתיים וארבע, סיפר לי........

© The Times of Israel