Two Palestinian families in the village of Qusra, near Nablus in the occupied West Bank, have been surrounded by Israeli settlers since Sunday. The families say they have been trapped inside their homes and are struggling because their water and electricity supplies were cut off. The families, known as the Abu Ridi and Hassan families, have appealed for help through social media. They said their food was running out and they were unable to safely leave their homes. Seven people, including two young girls, were reportedly trapped after settlers destroyed part of a wall and used the stones to block the road outside the houses. Qusay Abu Ridi said his family was living in a critical situation because they had been completely isolated. He said they were simply asking for the right to live safely in their own home and on their own land. Aysha Hassan, another resident, said settlers tried to break into the family's home and threw stones while shouting insults. She described her family as extremely frightened. The situation also caused concern among journalists and rights groups. On Monday, reporters from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz tried to reach the Palestinian families but said settlers blocked their vehicle. They also said Israeli soldiers at the scene did not help them and told them the area was a closed military zone. A day later, the Israeli human rights organisation Yesh Din called on the Israeli military to protect the Palestinian families, remove the settlers from the area and hold those responsible accountable. Late on Tuesday, a Palestinian ambulance was finally allowed to reach the families. It brought food supplies and took one child away for medical treatment. The Israeli military, known as the IDF, also condemned the establishment of the new settler outpost. It said that entering and taking control of Palestinian homes was illegal and unacceptable. On Wednesday, senior Israeli military officers, including Central Command chief Maj Gen Avi Bluth, arrived at the area. Israeli forces reportedly confronted a large group of settlers. Security forces used tear gas and stun grenades during the confrontation. The Israeli military said police had removed a tent used by the settlers and were working to remove the remaining people from the site. It also said disciplinary action would be taken against security personnel who had been filmed at the location earlier. The incident has added to wider concerns about violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The mayor of Qusra, Abdel Azim Wadi, said residents had seen what he described as a continuing pattern of attacks against the village. Last month, a newly completed mosque in Qusra was set on fire and Hebrew graffiti was reportedly found nearby. Other Palestinian communities in the area have also faced attacks and pressure from settlers. In another nearby village, Jalud, settlers reportedly surrounded a Palestinian home for more than two weeks in July. The owners later left the property, and settlers took control of the house. The United Nations has warned that the situation in the West Bank is becoming increasingly serious. UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov told the Security Council that settler violence had reached unprecedented levels and that the West Bank was at a breaking point. According to UN figures cited in the report, 76 Palestinians, including 18 children, have been killed in the West Bank this year by Israeli forces or settlers. Three Israelis have also been killed in confrontations with Palestinians and in an alleged vehicle attack. The UN also says that since January 2023, 127 Palestinian communities have experienced full or partial displacement. More than 6,390 Palestinians have been affected, while around 3,800 Palestinians were displaced in 2026 because of settler violence, demolitions and evictions. Israel says its settlements will remain in the West Bank. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon rejected the idea that settlements are an obstacle to peace and said Israel has historical and legal claims to the land. The situation in Qusra therefore reflects a much wider conflict over land, security and settlements in the West Bank. For the two Palestinian families currently trapped in their homes, however, the immediate concern is much simpler: getting safe access to food, water, electricity and medical care while being able to leave their homes without fear.