@cnn: Three Palestinian families have been trapped in their homes and unable to get supplies in for days as Israeli settlers lay siege to their homes. The settlers pitched a tent, cut off water and electricity lines, blocked roads, and surrounded the homes in the West Bank village of Qusra. The Israeli military has declared the area a closed military zone, but it has so far failed to remove the settlers from the area. The military says it launched a more forceful operation on Thursday morning, deploying an infantry battalion “to protect the residents and maintain security in the area.” CNN’s Jeremy Diamond speaks to the residents and reports from the scene.