Israeli settlers targeted 24 Palestinian villages across the occupied West Bank in a four-day wave of attacks, setting homes and vehicles ablaze and injuring residents. The surge follows the death of a young settler and coincides with heightened tensions amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Surge in Settler Violence Hits 24 West Bank Villages:
Israeli settlers carried out attacks on at least 24 Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank over a four-day period, torching homes, burning vehicles and injuring residents in what Palestinian officials described as a sharp surge in violence.
The incidents, concentrated around Nablus, Jenin and the Jordan Valley, included simultaneous raids on multiple communities where masked groups set fires and assaulted locals. At least 10-11 Palestinians were reported injured, with several requiring hospital treatment for head wounds and other trauma.
The wave comes as Israel continues military operations against Iran and maintains strict movement restrictions in the West Bank, leaving many Palestinian communities more exposed and heightening fears of forced displacement.
Widespread Night Raids and Arson Attacks Across West Bank Villages:
Palestinian news agency WAFA and eyewitnesses reported that settlers stormed villages including al-Fandaqumiya and Silat al-Dahr south of Jenin, setting homes and vehicles ablaze. In al-Fandaqumiya, residents described groups of up to 200 attackers from nearby settlements torching houses and smashing windows while Palestinians tried to extinguish the fires.
Further south of Nablus, villages such as Jalud and Qaryut faced similar raids. In Jalud, footage showed more than 90 masked individuals in black running into the community, setting vehicles alight and spray-painting graffiti. A medical centre and mosque were reportedly damaged. Attacks also hit agricultural areas in Masafer Yatta and the Jordan Valley, where livestock and farmland were targeted.
The violence spanned multiple nights, with simultaneous assaults reported across at least six to 14 communities in some accounts. Palestinian Red Crescent medics treated victims for beatings, pepper-spray injuries and trauma from confrontations.
Rising Settler Violence Amid Regional Tensions:
Settler violence in the West Bank has risen sharply since the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran began on 28 February 2026. UN monitors and rights groups have documented increased incidents, with movement restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities limiting Palestinian access to land and protection.
The latest wave was triggered by the death of 18-year-old Yehuda Sherman, who was reportedly hit by a vehicle driven by a Palestinian. Israeli police are investigating whether the incident was deliberate. Social media calls for revenge quickly circulated, preceding the coordinated attacks.
OCHA and OHCHR have recorded hundreds of settler attacks annually, with 2026 already showing elevated casualties and displacement compared to previous years. Thousands of Palestinians have been displaced in recent months due to repeated raids, arson and intimidation, particularly in the Jordan Valley and Area C.