2 weeks ago
Palestinian American raises US flag amid settler siege
A man named Loui Ridi lives in a village called Qusra in the West Bank.
He is an American citizen, but he also has family land there.
Some other people called settlers are trying to take over the land near his home.
To try to keep them away, Ridi put up a big American flag on his house.
He hoped the flag would make the settlers stop.
But one settler still came onto his land and argued with him.
Israeli soldiers came and told the settler to leave.
The soldiers also told Ridi to go inside his house.
Ridi's neighbors are scared to leave their homes because of the settlers.
Some people in nearby villages also fly American flags for protection.
American leaders are asking Israel's leader to speak out against the settlers.
The settlers want more land, but the Palestinian families want to stay in their homes.
Palestinian American Loui Ridi raised a US flag over his West Bank home in Qusra to deter militant settlers besieging the property.
A settler confronted Ridi on his land on Tuesday, holding what appeared to be a Torah and filming him, in an encounter filmed by Reuters.
Israeli soldiers told the settler it was a closed military area and instructed Ridi to stay inside his home.
Settlers have encircled three Palestinian homes in Qusra for more than a week, prompting US condemnation.
US officials are pressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn the settlers' actions; Netanyahu has not commented.
- Who
- Palestinian American Loui Ridi, Jewish settlers, Israeli soldiers, US officials, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
- What
- A settler confronted Ridi at his besieged West Bank home after Ridi raised a US flag for protection
- Where
- Qusra village, Israeli-occupied West Bank
- When
- Tuesday, August 18, 2026 (confrontation); siege began more than a week prior
- Why
- Settlers are seeking to seize more land from Palestinians, part of a wider effort by settlers
Palestinian/Pro-Palestinian View
Settler/Pro-Israel View
Land ownership and settlement
Palestinian/Pro-Palestinian View
Settlers are illegally seizing Palestinian land, part of a wider effort to expand settlements and undermine a future Palestinian state.
Settler/Pro-Israel View
Settlers are guarding their territory and claim a right to the land; the settler said 'We're all just guarding our territory.'
Role of the Israeli military
Palestinian/Pro-Palestinian View
The military has not done enough to protect Palestinians; some settlers are emboldened by the government, and the IDF is seen as complicit.
Settler/Pro-Israel View
The Israeli military has deployed forces to rein in settlers and maintain security for residents.
US flag as protection
Palestinian/Pro-Palestinian View
Flying the US flag is a form of protection and deterrence against settlers and the IDF, sending a message to the US administration.
Settler/Pro-Israel View
The flag is a provocative symbol; the settler confronted Ridi despite the flag, suggesting it does not legitimize Palestinian claims.
Key facts
- Location
- Qusra, West Bank
- Main figure
- Loui Ridi, Palestinian American
- Event
- Settler confrontation at besieged home
- Duration of siege
- More than one week
- US response
- Condemnation; pressing Netanyahu to condemn settlers
- US Ambassador to Israel
- Mike Huckabee, called settlers 'Israeli terrorists'
- Nearby village
- Turmus Ayya, 80% of population holds US citizenship
Quotes
Yaser Alkam
Spokesman for the village’s Palestinian American community
“"It’s a form of security, a form of protection. It provides deterrence not only to the settlers but also to the IDF."”
theprint.in
“"You are a terrorist settler, you know that?"”
theprint.in
Sources
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