HRW: Israeli settler attacks in West Bank contributing to forced displacement of Palestinians

Bethlehem /PNN /

Human Rights Watch said escalating attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank are increasingly driving the forced displacement of Palestinians, amid what it described as direct and indirect government support for the violence.

In a statement, the organisation said 107 Palestinian communities — including villages and towns — have been fully or partially displaced since January 2023, as settlement expansion continues at an unprecedented pace.

It said attacks, which have intensified significantly in 2026, include killings, physical assaults, psychological intimidation, property destruction and arson, as well as targeting livelihoods through livestock theft or killing and restricting access to grazing land and water sources.

Researcher Sara Sunberg said Israeli authorities “do not merely fail to prevent settler violence, but facilitate it,” adding that the shared objective is “to control as much land as possible with as few Palestinians as possible.”

According to the report, settler attacks are often carried out in the presence of or alongside Israeli forces, while in many cases soldiers do not intervene, reinforcing what it described as a pattern of forced displacement.

The organisation said it documented attacks on seven villages in the Ramallah, Nablus and Jordan Valley areas, based on testimonies from 20 people and video material, adding that Israeli forces did not respond to its requests for comment.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the number of Palestinians displaced in the first four months of 2026 exceeded the total recorded in all of 2025, with an average of 6.6 settler attacks per day — the highest rate on record.

At least 15 Palestinians, including two children, were killed by settlers through July, putting 2026 on track to surpass the 2023 record.

HRW said settlers responsible for the attacks receive financial, material and legal support from the Israeli state, including funding for equipment such as drones and night-vision goggles, alongside reported increases in government budgets linked to settlements.

Human rights groups say accountability remains extremely limited, with conviction rates in settler-related cases not exceeding 3% over several years, amid declining law enforcement action despite rising violence.

The report said settlement expansion is accelerating in parallel with the violence, with the Israeli government announcing new settlements and the retroactive authorisation of outposts — steps HRW said further entrench land seizure in the occupied territory.

Human Rights Watch said these practices may amount to forcible transfer, prohibited under international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.

It called on the international community to take action, including targeted sanctions on those involved, a suspension of arms transfers to Israel, a ban on trade with settlements, and a review of trade agreements.

HRW said impunity extends beyond individuals to government policies and international support, adding that accountability must include all parties involved.