Israeli settler attacks shift focus to West Bank areas under direct Palestinian rule

Violent Israeli settler attacks in the West Bank's Areas A and B, under direct Palestinian Authority governance, have nearly doubled since 2025, according to an Israeli human rights organization, Yesh Din. This shift in focus, from Area C to areas designated for a future Palestinian state, is part of a self-proclaimed "great settlement revolution." Data indicates that nearly two-thirds of settler violence incidents in 2026 occurred in Areas A and B, a significant increase from previous years. Settler leaders have openly stated their aim to gain footholds in these strategic Palestinian locations. This trend aligns with stated ambitions of some Israeli ministers to control Area B and abolish the Oslo Accords' divisions. International concern is growing, with some countries imposing sanctions on settlers and pro-settler figures.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports that escalating Israeli settler violence, supported by the Israeli government, is forcing the displacement of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The rights group states that dozens of Palestinian communities are at risk of erasure due to these attacks, which have increased significantly since December 2022 and spiked in early 2024. HRW accuses Israeli authorities of arming, funding, and providing impunity to settlers, who are engaged in killings, assaults, property destruction, and expulsions. The report highlights that the Israeli government and settlers share a goal of acquiring land while reducing the Palestinian population. HRW investigated these attacks in seven Palestinian communities in April and May. The organization is calling for sanctions and the suspension of military aid to Israel.