Global Focus on Iran Diverts Attention as Israeli Settler Violence in West Bank Escalates
Human rights groups and international observers are warning of a surge in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their property as diplomatic and media attention is diverted by the conflict with Iran. Since Israel and the United States launched military action against Iran on 28 February, settlers have killed five Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
“In the shadow of war, cooperation between the Israeli military and settler militias is deepening ethnic cleansing in the West Bank,” wrote Israeli human rights group B’Tselem on social media on 6 March, ahead of a report released on Monday detailing the killing of several Palestinians.
“Immediately after Israeli-American military action against Iran began, Israel imposed widespread restrictions on Palestinian movement in the West Bank.”
According to B’Tselem, settlers have deliberately grazed livestock on Palestinian-planted fields, destroyed crops and food supplies, stolen livestock, and damaged solar panels and water tanks.
Following the latest shooting on Sunday, the European External Action Service (EEAS) stated that “the level of violence in the West Bank is unacceptable.” The EEAS also urged Israeli authorities to “immediately take effective action to prevent further attacks against Palestinians and ensure accountability.”
Rise in Palestinian Settler Attacks
During the first 10 days of the Iran conflict, Israeli human rights group Yesh Din documented 109 separate incidents of settler violence against Palestinians across 62 communities, including shootings, physical assaults, property destruction, and threats.
On 2 March, two days after the conflict began, two Palestinian brothers were killed when they attempted to prevent Israeli settlers from damaging an olive grove in Qaryut, a small village in the northern West Bank.
Mohammed Taha Muammar and Fahim Taha Muammar were shot dead.
The Times of Israel reported that the suspected shooter was a member of an IDF territorial defence unit known by the Hebrew acronym Hagmar. This unit typically consists of settlers serving as military reserves.
“Security and Stability”
On 7 March, a settler shot and killed Amir Muhammad Shanaran (28) and critically wounded his brother Khaled in Wadi A-Rakhim, in the South Hebron Hills. A video circulated by B’Tselem shows an armed settler apparently wearing military uniform at the scene.
Palestinian and Israeli human rights groups have documented close cooperation between settlers and the Israeli military, with soldiers often failing to enforce laws designed to protect Palestinians from settler violence. Some violence is also perpetrated by reserve soldiers originating from Israeli settlements and deployed in the West Bank. Such units and private security units have in recent months been operating openly against Palestinians.
The third fatal attack occurred early Sunday in Abu Falah, a village near Ramallah. Villagers said they attempted to stop a group of masked Israeli residents from damaging olive trees in fields near the village.
Dozens of armed settlers subsequently raided the village and killed Thaer Faruq Hamayel and Fara Jawdat Hamayel, both of whom were shot in the head, according to Palestinian rescue services.
Israeli forces arrived later and fired tear gas at the village, according to witnesses. Another resident died after suffering a heart attack apparently triggered by gas inhalation, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah.
The IDF Central Command commander responsible for the West Bank, Avi Bluth, called the incident “unacceptable.” In his statement, he said:
“There will be no tolerance for civilians taking the law into their own hands. Such actions are dangerous, do not represent the Jewish people or the State of Israel, and distract us from the mission of maintaining the population and thwarting terrorism, whilst damaging security and stability in the region.”
To date, it is unclear whether any perpetrators have been arrested.
Attacks and Displacement Increase
Since the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023 and the war in Gaza, the United Nations and Palestinian and Israeli human rights groups have documented a major surge in settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, with at least 45 communities forced to abandon their homes.
On 5 March, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that eight Palestinian families, approximately 45 people, were forced to leave their community in the Nablus area following a series of attacks and threats by settlers from a new settlement outpost.
Such Israeli settlements and settlement outposts are considered illegal under international law.
OCHA also reported that since military action against Iran began, more checkpoints have been closed and gates on roads to villages and towns have been shut, seriously restricting Palestinian freedom of movement.
In its 2024 advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concluded that Israel’s prolonged occupation and systematic settlement development projects in the occupied Palestinian territories violate Palestinian rights to self-determination, and found the occupation illegal under international law.