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 1881-1900 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

25 September 2020 عصيرة القبلية, Asirah al-Qibliyah, 'Asirah al-Qibliyah Incidents: 1

‘Asirah al-Qibliyah, Nablus District: Settlers expel farmers from their land; soldiers fire tear gas at the farmers

17 September 2020 الساوية, a-Sawiyah, a-Sawiyah Incidents: 1

A-Sawiyah, Nablus District: Settlers break dozens of olive tree branches and uproot 42 olive seedlings

11 September 2020 الخليل, Hebron, Hebron Incidents: 1

Hebron: Israeli teens stone Palestinian home in Hebron and harass female owner

9 September 2020 راس كركر, Ras Karkar, Ras Karkar Incidents: 1

Ras Karkar, Ramallah District: Settlers exploit military restriction on farmer’s access to land to damage over 200 olive trees

8 September 2020 برقة ( نابلس), Burqah (Nablus), Burqah (Nablus) Incidents: 1

Burqah, Nablus District: Settlers coming from the direction of the evacuated settlement of Homesh throw stones at residents

7 September 2020 خ. الطوبا, Kh. a-Tuba, Kh. a-Tuba Incidents: 1

Israeli soldiers guard settler entering Khirbet a-Tuba allegedly looking for stolen sheep

6 September 2020 ترمسعيا, Turmusaya, Turmusaya Incidents: 1

Turmusaya, Ramallah District: Settlers uproot olive seedlings and steal parts of fence around plot

6 September 2020 حوارة, Huwarah, Huwarah Incidents: 1

Huwarah, Nablus District: Settlers invade Palestinian family’s yard and smash windows and slash tires of two cars

5 September 2020 تل رميدة, Tel Rumeidah, Tel Rumeidah Incidents: 1

Tel Rumeidah, Hebron: Dozens of settlers stone Palestinian family, injuring two members, and surround their house for hours

3 September 2020 عيلي, Eli, Eli Incidents: 1

Settlers stone Palestinian cars for hours on Route 60 near settlement of Eli

28 August 2020 عصيرة القبلية, Asirah al-Qibliyah, 'Asirah al-Qibliyah Incidents: 1

‘Asirah al-Qibliyah, Nablus District: Settlers torch car and spray hate-graffiti on Palestinian home

22 August 2020 خ. التوامين, Kh. a-Tawamin, Kh. a-Tawamin Incidents: 1

Khirbet a-Tawamin, South Hebron Hills: Settlers cut down 300 olive trees and destroy irrigation system

18 August 2020 التواني, a-Tuwani, a-Tuwani Incidents: 1

A-Tuwani, South Hebron Hills: Settlers steal tents from farmland and empty water container

15 August 2020 عصيرة القبلية, Asirah al-Qibliyah, 'Asirah al-Qibliyah Incidents: 1

‘Asirah al-Qibliyah, Nablus District: Settlers escorted by soldiers attack village homes twice in one day

13 August 2020 جيت, Jit, Jit Incidents: 1

Jit, Qalqiliyah District: Settlers set fire to farmland, burning 70 olive trees

13 August 2020 ياسوف, عوريف, Urif, Yasuf, 'Urif, Yasuf Incidents: 1

‘Urif and Yasuf, Nablus District: Settlers torch bulldozers, spray hate-graffiti and slash tires of five cars

13 August 2020 عصيرة القبلية, Asirah al-Qibliyah, 'Asirah al-Qibliyah Incidents: 1

‘Asirah al-Qibliyah, Nablus District: Settlers stone Palestinian homes; soldiers fire tear gas and throw stun grenades at villagers

11 August 2020 حوارة, Huwarah, Huwarah Incidents: 1

Route 60, Nablus District: Settlers throw stones at car passing by Yitzhar, smashing its window

11 August 2020 حوارة, Huwarah, Huwarah Incidents: 1

Huwarah, Nablus District: Settlers chase Palestinian surveyors, shoot in the air and throw stones at them

6 August 2020 ترمسعيا, Turmusaya, Turmusaya Incidents: 1

Turmusaya, Ramallah District: Settler car runs over and kills eight sheep, injures 12

Settler violence log

Wadi ‘Ein al-Matawi, Salfit District: Israeli settlers assaulted a 74-year-old man, beat him unconscious and set fire to sheep pens

19 March 2025

Hamad al-‘Azazmeh in his yard. The flags in the foreground were planted on the fence by settlers. Photo: Salma a-Deb’i, B’Tselem, 25 April 2024

On Monday, 19 March 2025, at around 4:00 P.M., about five settlers armed with rifles went into the residential compound of the ‘Azazmeh family in Wadi ‘Ein al-Matawi. In 2024, an outpost named Shuvael Farm was established about a kilometer away. The settlers broke into the yard, dragged the head of the family, 74-year-old Hamad al-‘Azazmeh, out of the compound, and beat him with their weapons until he lost consciousness.

The settlers then set fire to three sheep pens belonging to the family and located outside the residential compound, which were empty at the time.

Sheep pens burning after being torched by settlers. Use under Section 27A

Hamad al-‘Azazmeh was rushed to Salfit Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage. He was transferred to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus, where he was hospitalized for four days before being discharged.

In a testimony he gave B’Tselem field researcher Salma a-Deb’i on 25 April 2025, Hamad al-‘Azazmeh, 74, a father of five, said:

Image

Hamad al-‘Azazmeh at the hospital after being assaulted by settlers. Photo courtesy of local residents

I’ve lived in the Wadi ‘Ein al-Matawi area for about 40 years. I moved here from the Bani Na’im area because there was more pasture here, and I bought the land from residents of Salfit. We make our living raising sheep and selling dairy products.
At first, life here in Wadi al-Matawi was nice and quiet, and we didn’t encounter any problems. We put caravans on our land, and about a decade ago, I built a small house. My father and I invested everything we had to settle here. My adult children, three daughters and two sons, grew up here and live with me.
Last year, settlers established an outpost on the hilltop several hundred meters from us, on Farkhah village land. Early this year, they paved a road that passes right in front of our house, set up lighting poles and cameras, and since then, they’ve prevented us from crossing this road to reach the pastureland with our sheep. They’ve turned the road into a border we’re not allowed to cross, with or without the flock. We’re not even allowed to stand in front of our house. The moment the settlers see us at the entrance, they order us to go inside.
On 19 March 2025, at around 4:00 P.M., I was sitting in the yard, and my sons, ‘Eid, 33, and Sa‘id, 30, were in a nearby room. My wife and daughters were in another room. Suddenly, five to seven settlers armed with rifles burst into the yard. They grabbed me by the arms and dragged me outside our compound. There, they pounced on me, beat me with their guns, and kicked me as I lay on the ground. One of them struck me on the head with his gun, and I passed out. I woke up at Salfit Hospital with severe pain in my head and all over my body.

Image

The road settlers paved at the entrance to al-‘Azazmeh’s home. Photo: Salma a-Deb’i, B’Tselem, 25 April 2024

The doctor told me I had internal bleeding in my brain and that I needed to be transferred to Rafidya Hospital, where there’s a neurology specialist. I was taken there by ambulance and kept in the hospital for four days before being discharged.
I still feel tired and have headaches, and every week I go to a doctor in Salfit who prescribes medication. I filed a complaint with the Palestinian DCO, but I haven’t heard of any developments.
The settlers have also attacked my son Sa‘id several times, most recently ten days ago, when he went out with the flock only 400 meters from the house. They chased him on an ATV, threw stones at him and beat him with clubs. I took him to Salfit Hospital, where he underwent tests and was given painkillers.
Our lives have become hell. Even customers who used to come to buy cheese from us are now afraid to come. The moment someone comes over, even just for a visit, the settlers show up on their ATVs immediately, and the visitors get scared and leave. We’re also afraid the settlers will attack us or steal our sheep. We feel constantly threatened.

Damage to property (agricultural)
Physical assault

Settler Violence = State Violence

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