Israeli Settlers Expel 15 Palestinian Families in West Bank, Force Demolition of Homes
Israeli settlers have reportedly expelled 15 Palestinian families in the West Bank, forcing them to demolish their homes and leave the territory.
According to Al Jazeera on Wednesday (18/2/2026), al-Malih Village Council Head Mahdi Draghmeh told the Wafa news agency that on Tuesday (17/2), the forcibly displaced Palestinian families began dismantling their homes amid escalating attacks by Israeli settlers.
According to Wafa, seven additional families from the nearby Maita community were forced to leave several days earlier following similar attacks and threats from settlers.
In a separate incident, Israeli settlers also attacked men from the village of Nabi Samwil, northwest of East Jerusalem, in the occupied territory, injuring one man who was subsequently taken to hospital with bruising injuries.
This occurred alongside intensifying Israeli military operations across several areas of the occupied West Bank, with reports of raids and demolitions in Nablus, Al Khader, and Salfit.
The Israeli government has advanced a series of measures to strengthen its control over the occupied territory. These include making it easier for settlers to purchase Palestinian land and opening the registration of Palestinian land as Israeli state land.
**Israel Strengthens Control**
This week, the Israeli government also approved plans to designate the majority of the occupied West Bank as "state property," shifting the burden of proof onto Palestinians to establish ownership of their land.
Palestinians have warned that Israel's actions pave the way for formal annexation of the territory, which they say would end prospects for a Palestinian state as envisioned in various United Nations resolutions.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt said the measures were aimed at imposing new legal and administrative realities to consolidate control over the occupied land.
Israel's decision represents "a serious escalation aimed at accelerating illegal settlement activity, land seizure, strengthening Israeli control, and imposing unlawful Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian Territory and undermining the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people," the statement added.
Israel is known to have intensified military operations in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since launching its war on Gaza in October 2023.
These operations have included killings, arrests, expulsions, and settlement expansion, according to Palestinian officials, who say the actions are intended to impose new realities on the ground.
At least 1,114 Palestinians have been killed, approximately 11,500 injured, and around 22,000 arrested in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, according to official Palestinian data.
According to Al Jazeera on Wednesday (18/2/2026), al-Malih Village Council Head Mahdi Draghmeh told the Wafa news agency that on Tuesday (17/2), the forcibly displaced Palestinian families began dismantling their homes amid escalating attacks by Israeli settlers.
According to Wafa, seven additional families from the nearby Maita community were forced to leave several days earlier following similar attacks and threats from settlers.
In a separate incident, Israeli settlers also attacked men from the village of Nabi Samwil, northwest of East Jerusalem, in the occupied territory, injuring one man who was subsequently taken to hospital with bruising injuries.
This occurred alongside intensifying Israeli military operations across several areas of the occupied West Bank, with reports of raids and demolitions in Nablus, Al Khader, and Salfit.
The Israeli government has advanced a series of measures to strengthen its control over the occupied territory. These include making it easier for settlers to purchase Palestinian land and opening the registration of Palestinian land as Israeli state land.
**Israel Strengthens Control**
This week, the Israeli government also approved plans to designate the majority of the occupied West Bank as "state property," shifting the burden of proof onto Palestinians to establish ownership of their land.
Palestinians have warned that Israel's actions pave the way for formal annexation of the territory, which they say would end prospects for a Palestinian state as envisioned in various United Nations resolutions.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt said the measures were aimed at imposing new legal and administrative realities to consolidate control over the occupied land.
Israel's decision represents "a serious escalation aimed at accelerating illegal settlement activity, land seizure, strengthening Israeli control, and imposing unlawful Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian Territory and undermining the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people," the statement added.
Israel is known to have intensified military operations in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since launching its war on Gaza in October 2023.
These operations have included killings, arrests, expulsions, and settlement expansion, according to Palestinian officials, who say the actions are intended to impose new realities on the ground.
At least 1,114 Palestinians have been killed, approximately 11,500 injured, and around 22,000 arrested in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, according to official Palestinian data.