Huckabee brands Israeli settlers ‘terrorists’ over siege of Palestinian-American family

“Israeli terrorists” have been slammed by US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee after settlers laid siege to Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra, including one belonging to a Palestinian-American family.

In an unusually strong condemnation, Huckabee, who has described himself as a Zionist, said the US Embassy had pressed Israeli forces and police to remove those responsible for the siege, which began on Sunday and has left Palestinian families trapped in their homes with restricted access to essential supplies.

“The US Embassy has been VERY involved and the IDF and Israel Police have gone at our request to remove the Israeli terrorists doing this,” Huckabee wrote on X on Thursday. The US ambassador’s comments came response to social media speculation over Washington failing to protect yet another American citizen terrorised by Israeli settlers. 

“The actions of those doing this to this family’s home is criminal,” he added before responding to the online speculation about the White House not intervening. “The WH hasn’t ‘intervened’ because we have kept DC apprised of the situation already,” he continued describing the intimidation and harassment as a “horrific act of terror” and “thuggish behaviour”.  

This is another lie. @usembassyjlm has been VERY involved & the IDF & Israel Police have gone at our request to remove the Israeli terrorists doing this. The actions of those doing this to this family’s home is criminal. The WH hasn’t “intervened” because we have kept DC… https://t.co/qrfnCYcOtB

— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) August 13, 2026

Settlers have surrounded three Palestinian homes in Qusra for several days, including one owned by a Palestinian-American, erecting structures outside the properties and preventing residents from moving freely. According to reports from the scene, the families have also faced disruption to water, electricity and access to food and other supplies. Around 15 Palestinians, including two children, were trapped by the siege.  

READ: Israel begins demolition of 26 Palestinian buildings near Jenin to pave way for illegal settlement

For five consecutive days, Israeli settler terrorists are surrounding the home of an American citizen in the Palestinian village of Qusra in the occupied West Bank, leaving the family trapped inside their own home.

Yes, the owner of this house is an American citizen.

For five… pic.twitter.com/iaPyeISGzj

— Ihab Hassan (@IhabHassane) August 12, 2026

Israeli forces declared the area a closed military zone and attempted to remove the settlers on Wednesday. The effort initially failed after the settlers resisted and supporters arrived at the site. Although troops later dismantled structures erected by the settlers, residents said the siege continued. Video footage also appeared to show Israeli soldiers praying alongside settlers, prompting the military to announce disciplinary measures against personnel involved.  

Huckabee’s latest intervention comes against a record of attacks in which Palestinian-Americans have found that US citizenship offers little protection from Israeli settler and military violence.

In July 2025, 20-year-old Palestinian-American Sayfollah “Saif” Musallet, whose family is based in Florida, was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in Al-Mazraa Al-Sharqiya. His family demanded a US investigation and accountability for those responsible. Huckabee subsequently called for an investigation into the killing, which he described as a criminal and terrorist act.  

In February this year, 19-year-old Palestinian-American Nasrallah Abu Siyam was shot and beaten during a settler attack on the village of Mukhmas, north-east of Jerusalem. Armed settlers stormed the community alongside Israeli soldiers, fired on Palestinians and stole hundreds of sheep and goats. Abu Siyam later died after an ambulance trying to reach him was delayed at an Israeli checkpoint. He was at least the seventh American citizen killed by Israeli settlers or soldiers in the occupied West Bank since October 2023 without any accountability.  

Palestinian-Americans have also survived potentially lethal settler attacks. In June, 92-year-old US citizen Yasser Rashid  was assaulted by Israeli settlers who sprayed him with a flammable liquid through a mosque window in Deir Dibwan and set it alight. Rashid escaped the flames, while settlers attacked homes, vehicles and farmland in the town, where around 70 per cent of residents hold US citizenship.  

The lack of accountability extends beyond settler violence. Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot dead while covering an Israeli military raid in Jenin in May 2022. Unlike Musallet and Abu Siyam, Abu Akleh was killed during an Israeli army operation, not a settler attack. Israel later acknowledged a “high possibility” that one of its soldiers fired the fatal shot.

The Qusra siege comes amid a dramatic escalation in attacks by settlers across the occupied West Bank. All Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem violate international law. In its July 2024 advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory unlawful and said Israel must cease new settlement activity and evacuate settlers from the territory.  

READ: Israeli occupiers reestablish illegal Ganim settlement near Jenin in West Bank after 21 years