End Settler Violence in the West Bank

Since October 7, 2023, settler violence in the West Bank has intensified. While international attention has focused on Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, settler groups have accelerated the expansion of illegal settlements in violation of international law, emboldened by the Israeli government’s indifference, and, at times, material support. Violence has surged over the past six months, with settler attacks injuring an average of three Palestinians per day in 2026 so far.

Beyond restricting Palestinian access to important land, illegal settlements also threaten Palestinian safety, creating an environment of violence and constant intimidation. Settlers target and attack Palestinians in their own villages, including the fatal shooting of a teenager this month. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers also participate in settler violence, including a mid-July raid where IDF soldiers killed two Palestinians. Such attacks are almost never prosecuted by Israeli military courts. Most alarmingly, settler violence sometimes escalates into coordinated assaults on entire communities, such as the attacks on 20 Palestinian villages on March 21, 2026.

These settlements pose an immediate threat to Palestinian lives and a profound long-term threat to Palestinian livelihoods. Since October 7, 2023, more than 4,000 Palestinians have been displaced from their homes, while tens of thousands face broad restrictions on development and infrastructure. Combined with the physical violence many endure, ongoing settlement expansion is creating a future where Palestinians are increasingly excluded from the only home they have.

Call on Members of Congress to fight for an end to settler violence in the West Bank.

Photo: View from Beit Sahour, a Christian village facing settlement expansion, to Har Homa and beyond. Courtesy of Daniel Case, available in public domain via Wikimedia Commons.