🔻France calls for the arrest and trial of Israeli extremist settlers

France called for Israel to protect Palestinian civilians and for the arrest and trial of extremist settlers who have surrounded Palestinian homes in Qusra in the occupied West Bank.

The French foreign ministry said in a statement that it “condemns in the strongest possible terms the occupation of several Palestinian homes in the village of Qusra in the West Bank by Israeli settlers, as well as violent acts against Palestinian civilians.”

The statement added: “France condemns Israel’s settlement policy once again—a policy that threatens the two-state solution and causes tensions in the region to intensify.”

Israeli settlers in Qusra, near Nablus, have surrounded Palestinian homes since the beginning of this week, and despite the efforts of the army to drive them out, they have continued this action.

Residents say that as a result of this siege, their access to food and other essentials has been cut off.

The siege has faced exceptionally severe and rare criticism from Washington, Israel’s ally.