Israeli military restricts Palestinian-American from accessing West Bank land

Lou Ridi, a Palestinian-American, reported that Israeli military personnel blocked him from walking on his property in Qusra, a village in the northern West Bank. According to accounts of the incident, forces told Ridi he was not permitted to access the land, despite his ownership claim.

The restriction came as Jewish settlers in the area were allowed to move freely, underscoring the disparities in movement and land access between Palestinian landowners and Israeli settlers in occupied Palestinian territories. Such incidents have become increasingly common in the West Bank, where Palestinian farmers and property owners frequently report difficulties accessing their land due to military checkpoints, settlement expansion, and security restrictions.

The incident reflects broader tensions over land rights and settlement activity in the West Bank. Israeli authorities maintain security restrictions in the territory, citing safety concerns, while Palestinian rights groups and property owners argue these restrictions disproportionately affect Palestinians and facilitate settler expansion into Palestinian areas.

Ridi's case adds to a growing list of complaints from Palestinians—including those holding foreign passports—who say they face systematic obstacles in accessing their property while settlers expand their presence in the region. International observers have documented numerous instances of Palestinian landowners being barred from their own property while settlement construction continues.