Rights9/3/2026

Family From Qusra Challenges Restrictions on Access to Its Home

U.S. citizen Louay Abu Rida told Ynet that for 25 days, his family has been unable to leave its home freely or receive visitors in the Palestinian village of Qusra. The family petitioned the Supreme Court of Israel, but the publication does not state the case number or the court’s final decision.

Key facts

•Court: Supreme Court of Israel
•Case number: not stated in the source
•Duration of the restrictions according to the family: 25 days
•What the military coordinated: eight entries over two weeks
•Penalty for covering the face: imprisonment for up to six months
•Shekel sums: not stated

What Happened

According to Abu Rida, the restrictions began after a group of residents from an outpost appeared near the home on August 9. Later, the military declared the area adjacent to the homes a closed military zone and set up a post about 50 meters from the home. Abu Rida claims that food and medicine could be brought in only after coordination that took three to four days, and that the boxes had to be carried from the vehicle, which stopped near the post.

Petition to the Court

The family asked the Supreme Court of Israel to order the military to prevent residents of the outposts from reaching its home. According to the publication, the court asked the state to explain what steps it intends to take so that the family can return to a normal life. The source does not state the proceeding number, the date the petition was filed, the specific deadline for the state’s response, or the outcome of the hearing.

Legal Basis for the Restrictions

The Israel Defense Forces explained the restrictions by citing a closed military zone order issued to protect the families, prevent confrontations, and keep lawbreakers away. According to the military’s account, entry into and movement within the area of the homes are permitted only with prior coordination; eight entries were coordinated over two weeks. The publication does not provide the order number, its date, or its full text.

Additional Military Ban

The report also mentions an order issued by the commander of the Central Command, Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, banning face coverings in public places in Judea and Samaria. The order applies equally to Jews and Palestinians, and the maximum penalty for violating it is six months’ imprisonment. The publication’s author claims that, in practice, this ban does not prevent attacks by masked individuals.

The Parties’ Positions

Abu Rida views the existing arrangement as a complete siege and hopes for intervention by the court, the United States, or the international community. The Israel Defense Forces states that reinforced military and Border Police forces are deployed in the Qusra area to prevent confrontations and the infiltration of Israeli lawbreakers. The source does not mention a final judicial decision or the revocation of the closed-zone arrangement.

What this means for you

A closed military zone order may also restrict homeowners’ and residents’ access to the home and may require prior coordination for visits and the transport of supplies. Such restrictions may be challenged before the court, which is entitled to ask the state to explain their necessity and the steps taken to protect residents. In this case, the source reports only an interim request by the court to the state, not the final outcome of the proceeding.

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