Israeli settlers attack at‑Tuwani village in West Bank

Settler‑related violence in the occupied West Bank has surged to its highest level since the territory came under Israeli control in 1967, according to data compiled by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA recorded 1,274 incidents between January and June 2026, a 42 % increase over the same period in 2025 and more than double the number reported in 2020. The incidents include physical assaults on Palestinian civilians, destruction of property such as homes and olive groves, and intimidation tactics aimed at restricting movement in villages near Israeli settlements.

The rise in attacks coincides with a broader expansion of settlement activity, with the Israeli government approving construction of 3,500 new housing units in the West Bank during the first half of the year. Israeli security forces have responded to 312 of the reported incidents, resulting in 27 arrests, while Palestinian authorities have lodged 78 formal complaints with the Israeli military’s Civil Administration. International observers, including the European Union and the United Nations, have expressed concern that the escalation undermines the prospects for a negotiated two‑state solution and called for stricter enforcement of existing protection orders.

UN officials warned that continued impunity could further destabilize the region, urging both Israeli and Palestinian leadership to cooperate in preventing future attacks. The Israeli Ministry of Defense stated that it is reviewing its deployment of forces in hotspot areas, while the Palestinian Ministry of Interior announced plans to increase documentation of settler violence. The situation remains under close monitoring as diplomatic efforts to address the spike in settler attacks continue.