Loui Ridi joins family in West Bank village of Qusra to defend home against a week-long siege by Israeli settlers.
Loui Ridi, an Ohio-based property owner, arrived in the West Bank village of Qusra on Monday to reunite with his family and defend his home against a persistent siege by Israeli settlers. For over a week, 15 Palestinians, including two children, have been trapped inside three homes in the Ras al-Ain area, facing severe shortages of food, water, and electricity. While the Israeli military has deployed troops to maintain order and declared the neighborhood a closed military zone, the residents remain defiant. Qusai Abu Reida, a besieged resident, expressed a family resolve to remain in the home despite the deprivation. The siege is viewed by many as a strategic move by the Israeli government to seize land and potentially expel residents. This operation reflects a broader pattern of coordinated settler activity supported by the Israeli state, which has seen a rapid expansion of settlements and outposts since late 2023.