Palestinian-American Reclaims Besieged Home in West Bank

Loui Ridi, a Palestinian-American, could only watch from Ohio as Israeli settlers besieged his house in Qusra, a village in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, for over a week. Despite longstanding illegal seizures of Palestinian homes, these attacks have intensified. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to establish new settler outposts and legalize more existing ones.

After observing the siege for a week from Toledo and learning about other homes being encircled, Ridi, 46, flew to Tel Aviv to reclaim his home. The U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, recently referred to settlers responsible for this turmoil as ‘terrorists,’ marking a firm criticism.

Upon his arrival, Reuters documented Ridi’s journey back to Qusra, where Israeli troops were present to maintain peace. Yet, settlers remained, and Palestinians were afraid to leave their homes. Activists argue that Israeli authorities seldom stop settler violence. The Israeli human rights group B’Tselem has evidence of joint attacks by settlers and security forces on Palestinians.

‘I can’t let the settlers steal my house while watching,’ Ridi told Reuters upon reaching Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport. As he approached his home, he saw settlers and troops nearby. Eventually, he received an escort from an Israeli military vehicle to his family house. He raised an American flag upon arrival, stating, ‘The settlers shouldn’t be here.’

Increased Settler Violence

All Israeli settlements in the West Bank are deemed illegal under international law. However, Israel’s current right-wing government, which includes pro-settler ministers, disputes this. The government argues that most settlements are legal under domestic law, viewing the area as disputed territory.

CBS News reported rising settler violence against Palestinians in 2023. Activists and the United Nations observe this trend escalating since the conflict in Gaza began in October 2023. Critics say Netanyahu’s government has emboldened settlers, prompting more attacks.

More than 500,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements, excluding East Jerusalem, alongside three million Palestinians in the area, occupied by Israel since 1967.

Living Under Siege

Ridi began constructing his Qusra home in 2023 to connect his daughters to their heritage. His brother Qusay and a nephew stayed in the house under difficult conditions, protecting it from settlers. According to the U.N., they are among 15 Palestinians trapped in Qusra homes without running water or electricity.

From January 2017 to September 2025, over 1,500 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank by settlers and Israeli security forces, as per the U.N.

Ridi expressed his desire to ‘catch up’ with his brother and family after arriving, highlighting the personal impact of the ongoing conflict.