Settler Violence, Raids Escalate Across West Bank

Multiple areas in the occupied West Bank experienced coordinated attacks by settlers and Israeli forces on Sunday. These incidents included the bulldozing of agricultural land, assaults on farmers, students, and homes, as well as raids, arrests, and tightened movement restrictions around Ramallah and Al-Bireh. Local sources and the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reported that the violence was concentrated in Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, and Jenin. Israeli forces maintained roadblocks and closures on roads and entrances, coinciding with escalating settler attacks, particularly during the olive harvest season.

In the village of Umm Safa, northwest of Ramallah, settler vehicles bulldozed agricultural land in the northern part of the village to expand a settlement outpost established in 2024. Settlers had previously seized hundreds of dunams in the southern area of Umm Safa, constructing new roads. The village frequently faces attacks originating from settlements and outposts on Palestinian land, causing property damage and restricting residents' access to their land.

Around Ramallah and Al-Bireh, Israeli forces intensified military measures, closing roads and entrances, including iron gates at the entrances to Nabi Saleh and Attara, and the Al-Mahalel gate near Nil'in. Checkpoints were also set up at the entrances to Aboud, Ein Siniya, Yabrud, and Sinjil, where soldiers inspected Palestinian IDs, leading to severe traffic congestion. According to the Wall and Settlements Resistance Commission, 942 barriers, checkpoints, and obstacles were recorded in the West Bank, with 824 being fixed.

In the Nablus governorate, settlers attacked a Palestinian farmer harvesting olives in the Mahfouriya area of the town of Aqrabah, beating him and stealing his olives and equipment. These attacks occur amid the olive harvest season, with farmers facing increased violence and obstruction from accessing or working their land. The Wall and Settlements Resistance Commission reported that Israeli forces and settlers carried out 2,051 attacks against Palestinians, their land, and property last month, including 1,404 by forces and 647 by settlers.

In Huwara, south of Nablus, settlers attacked students of the Huwara Secondary School for Boys. Students and residents confronted the attackers. The school had previously been targeted earlier this year when settlers removed the Palestinian flag, raised an Israeli flag, and spray-painted racist slogans on its walls.

In Hebron, Israeli forces raided the town of Beit Ummar, north of the city, searched the home of the family of martyr Walid Sabarna, and arrested his father, Mohammed, and brother, Adam. In the town of As-Samu, south of Hebron, settlers infiltrated the home of Mahmoud Musa Al-Rawashdeh in the Wadi Juhaysh area, burning his vehicle, spray-painting racist slogans on walls, and damaging property.

In the Jenin governorate, Israeli forces arrested journalist Rajaa Maarouf Jaber after raiding her home in the town of Arraba. Forces also raided the town of Kafr Dan, west of Jenin, searched several homes, and arrested Ahmed Abdel Jabbar Salah and Mohammed Ahed Salah.