After weeks of watching a security‑camera feed from Ohio, Loui Ridi boarded a flight from Detroit to Israel to see his house in Qusra, West Bank, that has been surrounded by Israeli settlers for nearly a week. Ridi, 46, grew up in the village before emigrating to the United States and now lives in Toledo, Ohio.
Ridi said he could not stand by while settlers attempted to take his home. Upon landing at Ben Gurion Airport, he traveled with a small press contingent to the hill‑top house, which his grandparents owned and where his family has farmed for generations. Israeli military troops patrolled the area, and a military vehicle eventually escorted the group through the concrete gate after they waited about thirty minutes.
The house, built three years ago, is located in a sector that the 1990s Israeli‑Palestinian accords placed under Palestinian Authority control. Ridi raised an American flag on the roof after entering the home around 7 p.m., noting that his daughters will have a place to connect with their heritage.
Ridi’s brother, Qusay, and a nephew have been staying in the house, living without running water or electricity after settlers cut utilities. Town residents reported that about 15 Palestinians, including two children, have been trapped in Qusra homes without basic services.
Violence by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank has risen, with many observers linking the surge to policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right‑wing government, which continues a large settlement expansion. While United Nations bodies and most countries deem the settlements illegal under international law, Israel maintains the territory is disputed, not occupied.
The Israeli military says it has deployed forces to restrain the settlers and maintain security for residents, but the siege remains in place and families are still hesitant to leave their homes.
When asked about his next steps, Ridi said he hopes to sit with his brother, catch up, and assess how the family is faring.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
