New Israeli roadblocks entrench siege of homes in West Bank’s Qusra

Qusra, occupied West Bank – When Israeli authorities set up three new roadblocks at the Ras al-Ain hill in the northern occupied West Bank village of Qusra on Wednesday, Abdel Hakim Wadi knew he was about to lose access to his land below once and for all.

The roadblocks’ gates – large yellow and orange metal bars placed on two large concrete blocks – are infamous in the West Bank. They’re placed at the entrances of many, if not most villages, and have multiplied since Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza began in October 2023. The only ones holding the keys are the Israeli forces.

Israeli soldiers had already placed a gate at the main entrance of Qusra itself, forcing Palestinians traveling into the village to take alternative routes – but often find those closed as well.

Three homes in this area of Qusra have been besieged by Israeli settlers since August 9, attracting global attention and condemnation. Israeli forces have declared the area a closed military zone, but have effectively continued the siege, with locals trapped in their homes.

And now, instead of lifting the siege, the roadblocks erected by the Israelis have been placed in carefully-selected locations.

“They are pushing the Israeli settlers 100 to 150 metres away from [our] houses, but now they have established checkpoints,” Wadi told Al Jazeera. “[It is] a much more permanent siege.”

One of the gates was erected at the entrance of the house of Loui Ridi, a Palestinian-American who lives in Ohio, but who returned to Qusra to defend his property after the siege began. Israeli soldiers are stationed outside his home, which he has not been able to leave since his arrival on August 17.

Another roadblock is slightly further up the hill near a house under construction, and a third one is to the left side above a house that is being built.