By August 18, 2026, Palestinian-American Loui Ridi could do little but watch helplessly from his Ohio home. Security cameras revealed Israeli settlers besieging his house in Qusra, a village within the Israeli-occupied West Bank. This has increasingly become a common scenario as settlers intensify their actions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s push to establish and legalize more settler outposts further escalates these incidents.

For a week, Ridi monitored the siege from Toledo. The settlers also surrounded two other houses in the vicinity. Ridi, aged 46, resolved to take a flight to Tel Aviv, striving to return to his childhood village and reclaim his home. The U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, labeled the settlers causing chaos as “terrorists.” Dual citizen Loui Abu Ridi reconnected with his mother, Aisha, in Qusra on August 17, 2026.

Despite Israeli troops’ presence, intended to maintain peace, settlers persisted and Palestinians felt trapped at home. Activists argue about the Israeli authorities’ inaction against settler aggression. The human rights group B’Tselem recorded incidents involving settlers, police, and soldiers targeting Palestinians.

“I can’t let the settlers steal my house while I was watching,” Ridi declared upon reaching Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport.

His journey back to Qusra, a village often attacked by settlers, was documented. As Ridi neared home, settlers and troops stood visible. Ridi, alongside journalists, received an escort from an Israeli military vehicle upon finally reaching his home. Upon entry, he raised an American flag atop the roof, proclaiming:

“The settlers shouldn’t be here.”

Worsening Settler Violence

All Israeli settlements in the West Bank face condemnation as illegal under international law. However, they gain backing from Israel’s right-leaning government, led by Netanyahu and far-right coalition parties. Israel disputes the international viewpoint, claiming many settlements are legal domestically. Despite this, CBS News documented firsthand increases in settler violence. This trend worsened post the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack igniting the Gaza war. Critics argue Netanyahu’s government emboldens settler aggression, leading to more attacks.

Over 500,000 Israelis, excluding East Jerusalem, inhabit West Bank settlements alongside nearly three million Palestinians. Israel has occupied the area since 1967.

Trapped Under Siege

Ridi began building his Qusra home on family land in 2023. He aimed to provide his daughters with a connection to their heritage. His brother, Qusay, and a nephew, remained in the home under worsening conditions to shield it from settlers. The U.N. reports they are among 15 Palestinians, including two children, trapped without water or electricity.

Since January 2017 through September 2025, the U.N. reports over 1,500 Palestinians killed in the West Bank, involving settlers and Israeli security forces. When asked about future plans, Ridi expressed his desire to reunite with his brother to discuss their situation further.