Settler Violence = State Violence

In recent years — and especially since 7 October 2023 — there has been a sharp increase in both the number and severity of settler attacks against Palestinians. The incidents reported on this blog do not reflect all incidents of settler violence in the West Bank, but only those that B’Tselem was able to document and investigate.

Download the monthly totals (CSV)

Displaying 1701-1720 of 2015 updates. An update can cover more than one incident.

Incident type

Area

District

Locality

Dates

From date

To date

Israeli forces present

During the olive harvest

Communities forcibly transferred or facing forced transfer

May 2021

22 May 2021 أم لصفا, Um Lasafa, Um Lasafa Incidents: 1

South Hebron Hills: Settler punctures car tires of Palestinian farmers and activists
21 May 2021 الخليل, Hebron, Hebron Incidents: 1

Wadi al-Hasin, central Hebron: Settlers invade neighborhood escorted by two soldiers, stone homes, open live fire and attack resident in his yard with pepper spray and large stone
17 May 2021 الخليل, Hebron, Hebron Incidents: 1

A-Shalala Street, central Hebron: Dozens of settlers stone Palestinian homes in front of soldiers, one fires at home
16 May 2021 جالود, Jalud, Jalud Incidents: 1

Jalud, Nablus District: Settlers saw off neighborhood utility pole for the third time
15 May 2021 قصرة, Qusrah, Qusrah Incidents: 1

Qusrah, Nablus District: Settlers escorted by soldiers attack homes in southern part of village and torch chicken coops
14 May 2021 عوريف, إسكاكا, Urif, Iskaka, 'Urif, Iskaka Incidents: 1

May 2021: Two Palestinians were fatally shot in two joint attacks by settlers and soldiers in the villages of Iskaka and Urif - Awad Harb and Nidal Safadi
14 May 2021 عصيرة القبلية, Asirah al-Qibliyah, 'Asirah al-Qibliyah Incidents: 1

Soldier kills Husam 'Asayrah (19) during violent settler raid on village of 'Asirah al-Qibliyah
14 May 2021 بورين, Burin, Burin Incidents: 1

Burin, Nablus District: Settlers stone ‘Eid family’s home for third time in seven months
13 May 2021 التواني, a-Tuwani, a-Tuwani Incidents: 1

A-Tuwani, South Hebron Hills: Settlers attack international activists escorting Palestinian teen to well; police detain activists for questioning and military issues two a restraining order from the West Bank
13 May 2021 الخليل, Hebron, Hebron Incidents: 1

Routine in Hebron city center: Sexism, homophobia and harassment by settlers and soldiers: life’s routine in Hebron
12 May 2021 بورين, Burin, Burin Incidents: 1

Burin, Nablus District: Israeli settlers vandalize two Palestinian homes under construction while other settlers climb roof of family’s home and throw stones, causing damage
12 May 2021 بيتين, Beitin, Beitin Incidents: 1

Beitin, Ramallah District: Settlers stone two Palestinian cars, shattering windows
11 May 2021 الخليل, Hebron, Hebron Incidents: 1

Hebron city center: Settlers stone Palestinian residents; soldiers escorting them arrest B’Tselem volunteer for no reason, abuse him and release him two days later
11 May 2021 الفجم, al-Fajam, Lifjim Incidents: 1

The al-Fajam (‘Aqraba) community, Nablus District: Settlers vandalize residential tents and livestock enclosure
11 May 2021 حوارة, Huwarah, Huwarah Incidents: 1

Huwarah, Nablus District: Settlers attack villager sitting in his doorway with stones and clubs, breaking his nose
8 May 2021 الخليل, Hebron, Hebron Incidents: 1

Central Hebron: Teens from Beit Hadassah settlement stone Palestinian cars and pedestrians and swear at them
8 May 2021 التواني, a-Tuwani, a-Tuwani Incidents: 1

A-Tuwani, South Hebron Hills: Settlers stone Palestinian home; soldiers fire tear gas and stun grenades at residents defending it
6 May 2021 خ. المفقرة, Kh. al-Mufaqarah, Kh. al-Mufaqarah Incidents: 1

Khirbet al-Mufaqarah, Masafer Yatta: Settlers stone Palestinian shepherd, injuring his hand
4 May 2021 بورين, Burin, Burin Incidents: 2

Burin, Nablus District: Settlers torch grove and stone Palestinian home; soldiers fire tear gas at residents who come to defend the home
3 May 2021 رام الله, Ramallah, Ramallah Incidents: 1

Shilo Junction (Route 60), Ramallah District: Settlers stone Palestinian car, injuring passenger

Videos

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Settler Violence = State Violence

Stealing the poor man’s lamb: As part of efforts to take over land in the West Bank, settlers steal sheep and goat flocks, often with assistance from the military, severely harming herders’ livelihoods

17 August 2026

Settler Violence = State Violence

Joint violence by the military and settler militias is a central component of Israel’s ethnic cleansing policy in the West Bank

11 June 2026

מתנחלים מכים באלות את מוחמד אבו סבחה השרוע על הקרקע. מתוך תיעוד במצלמות אבטחה באדיבות התושבים

Settler Violence = State Violence

South Hebron Hills, January 2026: Increased Israeli effort to complete ethnic cleansing of Area C

18 May 2026

East Jerusalem

For the first time since 1967, Israel is expelling an entire Palestinian neighborhood in Jerusalem

5 May 2026

Settler Violence = State Violence

A settler in military uniform shot and killed two Palestinian brothers as part of a settler attack on the village of Qaryut, Nablus District

1 April 2026

Settler Violence = State Violence

Khallet a-Sidrah, al-Quds District: Shepherding community facing immediate expulsion

25 January 2026

Settler Violence = State Violence

Israeli settlers engage in animal brutality as part of ongoing assault on Palestinian communities

6 January 2026

Settler Violence = State Violence

Wadi Ejheish, South Hebron Hills: Settlers attacked a home and tried to break in, smashed windows, pepper-sprayed six family members including a baby, slaughtered sheep and vandalized a car

9 November 2025

Settler violence log

Sarta, Salfit District: Settlers enter village and hurl stones and stun grenade at homes and parked cars

4 January 2021 · Views: 2,073

On 4 January 2021, at around 3:00 A.M., eight settlers invaded the southern neighborhood of the village of Sarta, northwest of the town of Salfit. They stoned homes and parked cars, smashed three windows in two homes and hurled a stun grenade at one of the homes, damaging an outer wall. They also smashed two windshields and a side window of two vehicles parked in the area and damaged their tires. Their actions were recorded by a nearby security camera.

In testimonies they gave B'Tselem field researcher Abdulkarim Sadi the day after incident, the victims described the attack:. Mustafa Khatib (62), a married father of five, recalled being woken by a stone that hit the window by his bed:

A few months ago I had a heart attack. I haven't fully recovered and haven't gone back to work yet. Since my heart attack I've been sleeping in the living room.

On Monday morning, I woke up and stayed in my bed, which is by the window overlooking the main road. I heard noises and an explosion outside, and then a stone hit the window. It didn't penetrate it but got stuck between the glass and the bars. I got such a fright that I fell out of bed. I crawled away from the window. Meanwhile, my wife came into the living room and I asked her not to go near the window.

At the same time, my son Ayman, who lives in a room on the roof, came downstairs quickly because he thought our cooking gas tank had exploded. I told him to be careful and not go outside because there were people throwing stones and explosives. Ayman and I went up to his room to see what was happening. We saw two masked settlers running towards the olive grove on the southern side of the village.

Mustafa's wife, Sharifah Khatib (55), also told B'Tselem what she recalled of that night:

After Mustafa and Ayman went up to the roof to check what was happening outside, my daughter Hala (17) woke up in fright because of the explosions outside and the stones being thrown at our home. I tried to calm her down, but she was too terrified. After a few moments, Mustafa and Ayman came down and said they’d seen the settlers running away and that the neighbors had gone outside. So we also got up the courage to go outside and see what had happened. We found the tiles on the house’s outer wall charred and a stun grenade lying on the ground in front of the house. We also saw glass shards from the windows they’d smashed. The settlers smashed the windshield of my husband's car and damaged its tires.

In his testimony, Mukhtar Sarsur (35), a father of four, recalled:

On Monday, 4 January 2021, at around 3:00 A.M., I was in bed but hadn't fallen asleep yet. Suddenly, I heard two explosions in our neighborhood. I got up and went to the window overlooking the entrance to the house and the street, and saw four people with masks. Two of them were standing in front of my cousin's house, throwing stones at a car parked out front. The other two were throwing stones at my car, which was parked in front of our home. I immediately went to the children's room to check on them and saw that they were asleep. The neighbors went outside and so did I. I found my car's rear window and side window smashed, and three of its tires damaged.

Damage to property (nonagricultural)
Verbal confrontations and threats

Settler Violence = State Violence

May 2021

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