Mapping the rise in Israeli settler attacks across the occupied West Bank | News of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

While much of the world’s attention remains on the Gaza ceasefire agreement, less than 33 kilometers (21 miles) away, Israeli settlers, often backed by soldiers, continue their daily attacks and raids across the occupied West Bank.

On Monday evening, Israeli settlers uprooted 150 olive trees in the village of Bardala in the northern Jordan Valley, destroying the livelihoods of many families.

Settlers regularly seize Bardala lands, burn property and destroy crops in an attempt to seize Palestinian land, expand illegal Israeli settlements, and intimidate local communities into leaving.

Earlier today, Monday, settlers attacked Palestinian farmers in Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem, wounding a number of them. Witnesses said the attackers threw stones and wounded dogs at people and set vehicles on fire.

Escalation of settler attacks

Since the Israeli war on Gaza began in October 2023, the pace of Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank has steadily escalated.

According to data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Palestinian settlers have attacked nearly 3,000 times in the occupied West Bank over the past two years.

The number of settler attacks has risen sharply since 2016, with 852 attacks recorded in 2022, 1,291 in 2023, and 1,449 in 2024.

With more than 1,000 attacks in the first eight months of 2025, this year is on track to become the most violent yet.

Settler attacks often escalate during the period Olive harvest The season is from September to November, a vital time of the year that provides a major source of livelihood for many Palestinian families.

Who are the Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians?

Israeli settlements are for Jews only Communities are built On the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel in 1967.

Today, between 600,000 and 750,000 settlers live in more than 250 settlements and outposts across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Many of them are located near Palestinian towns and villages, often leading to escalating tensions and severe restrictions on Palestinian movement.

Settlers are often armed and often accompanied or protected by Israeli soldiers. In addition to destroying Palestinian property, these forces carried out arson attacks and killed Palestinian residents.

Where did the settlers attack in the occupied West Bank?

Every governorate of the West Bank has faced settler attacks over the past two years. OCHA data shows that between January 2024 and August 2025, Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate recorded the highest number of settler attacks with 634 incidents, followed by Nablus with 501 and Hebron with 462 incidents.

Most settler attacks occur in Area C, which constitutes more than 60 percent of the occupied West Bank, and is concentrated near Israeli settlements and outposts.

Under the 1993 Oslo Accords, the occupied West Bank was divided into three areas: Area A, under the full control of the Palestinian Authority; Area B, under the administrative authority of the Palestinian Authority and Israeli security control; and Area C, which is entirely controlled by Israel.

More than 1,000 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank

Since October 7, 2023, more than 1000 Palestinians Nearly 10,000 people have been killed and nearly 10,000 others injured across the occupied West Bank by Israeli forces and armed settlers, according to UN figures.

In 2025 alone, OCHA documented at least 178 Palestinian deaths linked to settler and military violence. The victims included farmers, children, and residents caught in almost daily raids and attacks on villages and refugee camps.

Settler violence also led to large-scale displacement. At least 3,434 Palestinians have been forced to leave their homes due to settler violence and access restrictions since the start of the war in Gaza.