The mayor of Qusra, in the West Bank, Abdulazim Wadi, has accused the Israeli Army of forcibly removing a group of Italian activists from the locality who were accompanying Palestinian families allegedly "besieged" by the violence of Israeli settlers in the area.
According to the municipality's explanation on its official accounts, "solidarity activists from Human Rights organizations (...) tried to reach besieged homes in the Ras al Ain area. They managed to reach the vicinity of the houses; however, the occupying Army prevented their access, expelled them, and forced them to move away from the place."
Local authorities have added that the expulsion occurred when the foreign activists were already inside the homes of Palestinian residents, where they were delivering basic supplies to families "besieged" since Sunday, including drinking water and food.
The NGO Looking the Occupation in the Eye has stated in a statement that around 100 activists traveled to Qusra, but Israeli security forces blocked their way by showing an order declaring the area as a "closed military zone."
In the same note, the organization reports that "the activists cut and removed a Star of David that the settlers had placed on the roof of a house. According to testimonies, about ten settlers arrived from the nearby outpost with long guns and fired. The settlers claimed that Palestinians were not allowed to be in the area."
The NGO has also added that the settlers "intended to establish" a settlement in that house during the night and "threatened to set fire to more houses in Beit Sahur." "The soldiers who were present and heard what was said did not react. This is private land in area C," the entity has denounced.
On the other hand, the NGO Standing Together has indicated in another statement that in one of the affected homes the light "went out" after the Israeli Army "used the system" of the resident family's electricity. "The occupation and the violence of the settlers have become part of daily life and more red lines are being crossed," the organization has warned.
So far, neither the Israeli Army has offered an official version of what happened nor has the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs made public comments about the incident.