Settler violence rises in West Bank under Netanyahu government

Violence in the occupied West Bank has risen sharply since the formation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right‑wing coalition in late 2022, according to data compiled by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and Israeli human‑rights groups. OCHA reported a 45 percent increase in reported incidents of settler‑related attacks and a 30 percent rise in Palestinian civilian casualties between January 2023 and June 2024, compared with the same period in the previous two years. The surge coincides with the government’s approval of new settlement construction permits in Area C, expanded security‑force operations in response to alleged attacks, and a series of high‑profile clashes near the city of Nablus and the settlement of Kiryat Arba.

Israeli officials attribute the heightened security measures to an uptick in rocket fire and stabbing attacks, while Palestinian authorities and international observers cite the expansion of settlements and the perceived impunity of extremist settler groups as primary drivers of the escalation. The United Nations and the European Union have called for renewed investigations into alleged human‑rights violations and urged both sides to refrain from actions that could further inflame tensions. As the conflict intensifies, humanitarian agencies warn that the deteriorating security environment is hampering aid delivery and increasing the risk of broader instability in the region.