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Israeli Settler Attacks Expand into Palestinian-Governed West Bank Areas

Armed Israeli settlers have increased attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, shifting their focus toward areas under direct Palestinian rule and using firearms to force residents from their land, according to reports from The Guardian, The Times, and Al Jazeera. Since October 7, at least 61 Palestinians, including children, have been killed in the occupied West Bank by both Israeli forces and settlers, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Fatal Attacks in Qusra and Settler Armament

In the village of Qusra, south of Nablus, armed settlers killed Ibrahim Wadi, 62, and his son Ahmad, 24. The men were traveling to a funeral for four other Palestinians previously shot dead by settlers in the same community, CNN reports. Hani Odeh, the mayor of Qusra, told CNN that an official from COGAT (Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories) had advised him to take a diverted route to avoid settlers. However, Odeh reported that the diverted road was filled with settlers who shot the father and son while Israeli soldiers patrolled the street without intervening.

The Times reports that Israel is arming settlers specifically to force Palestinians off their land in the West Bank. This trend follows a surge in violence that an Israeli military commander previously characterized as a “pogrom,” according to CNN. In Qusra, residents reported that settlers attacked an apartment building on October 11, leaving behind bullet marks, torched cars, and destroyed electricity lines.

Institutional Impunity and Legal Barriers

Palestinian victims of these attacks face significant obstacles in seeking legal redress. Al Jazeera reports that victims struggle for justice in a system where settler violence often goes unpunished. ABC News reports that Israeli impunity regarding these attacks has remained virtually unaffected despite collective international concern.

The Economist suggests that the current environment in the West Bank is flirting with the start of a new intifada. This instability is compounded by regular Israeli military incursions and raids targeting militant strongholds, which resulted in a record number of deaths for both Israelis and Palestinians over the last year, according to CNN.

Military Response and Security Stance

The Israeli military has maintained a high state of alert in the territory. Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesperson, stated that the military is preparing to thwart potential attacks. Hagari used the biblical names Judea and Samaria to refer to the West Bank, stating, “Anyone who challenges us in Judea and Samaria will be met with huge force,” according to CNN.

While the Israeli military emphasizes security operations, residents of the West Bank expressed fear to CNN regarding revenge attacks from the estimated 700,000 Israeli settlers living in the region.

Comparative Casualty Data

The violence in the West Bank is occurring parallel to the conflict in Gaza. According to data cited by CNN:

• West Bank: At least 61 Palestinians killed and more than 1,250 injured since October 7, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
• Israel: More than 1,400 people dead, primarily civilians, following the October 7 Hamas assault, according to Israeli authorities.
• Gaza: At least 3,478 people dead due to Israeli airstrikes following the announcement of a “complete siege,” according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry.

CNN reached out to the IDF and COGAT for comment regarding the specific allegations of military inaction during the killings in Qusra, but neither agency had responded at the time of reporting.