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 1901-1920 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

4 August 2020 خ. بير العد, Kh. Bir al-'Eid, Kh. Bir al-'Eid Incidents: 1

Khirbet Bir al-‘Eid, Masafer Yatta: Settlers vandalize water pipes

2 August 2020 خ. سوسيا, Kh. Susiya, Kh. Susiya Incidents: 1

Israeli military continues to escort settlers invading Khirbet Susiya to harass residents

1 August 2020 الخليل, Hebron, Hebron Incidents: 1

Even on a high holiday: Settlers attack Abu Shamsiyeh family in Tel-Rumeidah, central Hebron

27 July 2020 البيرة (رام الله), al-Birah (Ramallah), al-Birah Incidents: 1

Al-Birah, Ramallah District: Settlers torch mosque

23 July 2020 جماعين, Jamma'in, Jamma'in Incidents: 1

Jamma’in, Nablus District: Settlers torch engineering equipment in quarry and spray-paint slogan

20 July 2020 ترمسعيا, Turmusaya, Turmusaya Incidents: 1

Turmusaya, Ramallah District: Settlers steal 150 fence posts from farmer, two years after uprooting his olive seedlings and vandalizing same fence

18 July 2020 ترمسعيا, Turmusaya, Turmusaya Incidents: 1

Turmusaya, Ramallah District: Settlers ambush and stone cyclists, beat two of them, steal three bikes and vandalize them

9 July 2020 اللبن الشرقية, a-Lubban a-Sharqiyah, a-Lubban a-Sharqiyah Incidents: 1

A-Lubban a-Sharqiyah, Nablus District: Settlers slash car tires and spray hate graffiti on bus

30 June 2020 بديا, Bidya, Bidya Incidents: 1

Bidyah, Salfit District: Settlers stone Palestinians out strolling, fire shots nearby and threaten to kill villagers who dare return

29 June 2020 خ. التوامين, Kh. a-Tawamin, Kh. a-Tawamin Incidents: 1

Khirbet a-Tawamin, Masafer Yatta: Settlers vandalize fence and irrigation system

25 June 2020 حارس, Haris, Haris Incidents: 1

Haris, Salfit District: Settlers uproot almost 150 olive trees and bury them in the ground. Amjad Sultan: “We’re exhausted from the effort to hold on to our land”

25 June 2020 دوما, Duma, Duma Incidents: 1

Duma, Nablus District: Settlers attack Palestinian vehicle with stones

23 June 2020 برقة ( نابلس), Burqah (Nablus), Burqah (Nablus) Incidents: 1

Burqah, Nablus District: Settlers set fire to farmland and attack vehicles

21 June 2020 وادي القلط, Wadi al-Qalt, Wadi al-Qalt Incidents: 1

Wadi al-Qalt, east of Jerusalem: Settlers invade 'Arab al-Ka’abneh community, one beats resident with metal rod

18 June 2020 بورين, Burin, Burin Incidents: 1

Burin, Nablus District: Settlers torched trees and threw stones at house under construction. Soldiers fired tear gas and "rubber" bullets and impeded efforts to extinguish the fire

15 June 2020 خ. المالح, Kh. al-Malih, Kh. al-Malih (Hamamat al-Malih) Incidents: 1

Khirbet al-Malih, Jordan Valley: Settlers invade community

15 June 2020 عين سامية, Ein Samia, Ein Samia Incidents: 1

‘Ein Samia, Ramallah District: Settlers torch fields, Israeli security forces and firefighters stand by and let dozens of fields burn down

15 June 2020 الفجم, al-Fajam, Lifjim Incidents: 1

The al-Fajam (‘Aqraba) community, Nablus District: Dozens of settlers raid Palestinian tent compound, utterly destroying it

13 June 2020 التواني, a-Tuwani, a-Tuwani Incidents: 1

A-Tuwani, South Hebron Hills: Settlers try to invade village during activists' tour

13 June 2020 عصيرة القبلية, Asirah al-Qibliyah, 'Asirah al-Qibliyah Incidents: 2

'Asirah al-Qibliyah, Nablus District: Settlers stone Palestinian home in broad daylight and vandalize family’s car at night

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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