Palestinian American confronts settlers at besieged West Bank home

A Palestinian American homeowner returned to his besieged property in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, only to be ordered back inside by Israeli soldiers who declared the area a closed military zone, while confronting settlers he accuses of illegally occupying his land. Loui Ridi, a 46-year-old resident of Ohio, had arrived the previous day to defend his home in the village of Qusra, which has been encircled by Israeli settlers for over ten days.

Ridi confronted a settler on his property on Tuesday morning, calling him a terrorist and demanding he leave, while video captured the exchange. Israeli soldiers instructed the settler to depart, citing the closed military zone designation, but also ordered Ridi to return indoors. Ridi reported seeing at least three settlers remain close enough to threaten his family once the soldiers departed. He expressed frustration at being confined to his home, stating he cannot leave without military permission and coordination, a process that takes hours and is not guaranteed.

The standoff involves three Palestinian homes in Qusra, a village located about 16 kilometers southeast of Nablus. Ridi owns one of the houses,...