U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has condemned Israeli settlers for blockading Palestinian homes near Nablus, calling the siege a "cruel act of terror" and saying there is no excuse for such "thuggish behaviour." The blockade, ongoing since Sunday in the village of Qusra, has cut residents off from food and essential supplies, according to residents. One of the targeted homes belongs to a U.S. citizen.
Huckabee posted his remarks on X on Thursday, describing the settlers' actions as "disgusting" and aimed at intimidating Palestinian families out of their homes. He noted that Israel had intervened at the request of the United States. The Israeli military said it had dismantled two illegal outposts and confiscated equipment on Wednesday, though eyewitnesses said soldiers withdrew without fully removing the settlers.
The criticism is notable given Huckabee's long-standing support for Jewish settlements in the West Bank and his opposition to Palestinian statehood. Settler violence has surged since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.