Human rights activists: West Bank settler violence on the rise

In the shadow of the war in Gaza, settler violence in the West Bank has increased, activists report. Wells will be destroyed and houses destroyed. There have also been reports of casualties. Many residents are in despair.

A cell phone video taken from mid-October shows violence in the now-occupied West Bank: a scene can be seen in the hilltop village of At-Duani south of Hebron. A few local Palestinians, a settler and an Israeli soldier. Suddenly a settler approaches a Palestinian, knocks him back with his assault rifle, then steps back and shoots. The Palestinian collapses and is dragged away. The settler then approaches the soldier – both leave the scene; A lot of shouting is heard.

The whole thing was filmed by Basil Adra, a young journalist from Ad-Duani. The person who was shot was his cousin. Basil tells him that he is still in intensive care and has already had three operations, but that he will survive ARD-Studio Tel Aviv.

According to witness reports, the migrant comes from an outpost above the village. This location is also illegal under Israeli law. But this did not stop the settlers from repeatedly terrorizing the residents of Ad-Duani. They repeatedly visited the village and placed a large Israeli flag on the tree between the village and the outpost. The Palestinians here see this as a provocation.

Companies report more than 170 cases

Settler violence in the West Bank has risen again since the war in Gaza began. More than 170 cases, including Ad-Duani’s, have been registered by human rights organizations since October 7. Sometimes houses are destroyed or olive trees are destroyed, sometimes settlers set up roadblocks, sometimes they go into cities, damage shops and destroy cars.

Also: Human rights groups say eight Palestinians have been killed by Israeli settlers since the war began – including a child. This cannot be confirmed – the cases are still being investigated by the State Attorney’s Office.

Now in uniform too

Human rights activists like Sahar Vardi from Jerusalem are trying to show their presence, document and support people. In the shadow of the Gaza war, she has the impression that the settlers can do anything and no one will care. He says there are currently six to seven cases of migrant violence per day on average.

Additionally, violent immigrants now wear uniforms. Some of them had already attacked Palestinians, but now some have been organized as private armed militias, while others have been drafted as protectors and stationed in the area, still continuing their attacks. As a result, incidents of violence by settlers wearing Israeli Defense Force uniforms are on the rise. When the activists later called the police, they said it was fine, the army was there, Sahar Vardi said.

She informs him ARD-Studio Tel Aviv Tests conducted for training purposes to impart training to newly created reservists. This cannot be verified. The argument that these measures help prevent Palestinian terrorist attacks is irrelevant: South of Hebron – unlike other areas in the West Bank – has not seen any recent terrorist attacks.

Activists: Targeted Attacks Water supply

Jibril Abu Musa Aram lives with settler violence almost every day. Lives a short distance to the south. His family once owned a lot of land in the area. Settlements were built in some parts of it. Jibril reports that the settlers broke into his house and the houses of his neighbors several times and destroyed many things there. He says the settlers dumped too much animal waste into his well and many of his goats died.

Human rights activists also report that settlers are taking targeted action against the supply of water to local people ARD-Studio Tel Aviv. Water pipes or wells were systematically destroyed in the attacks.

Attacks can be observed among Jibreel’s neighbors. A few hundred meters away, uniformed men can be seen in a white car. You can hear screams, a man has to lie on the ground, people are being driven out of the olive grove.

According to activists, hundreds of people were displaced

Jibril reports recognizing at least one soldier recently. He had earlier assaulted him in civilian clothes and tried to poison his goats. Now in uniform. He starts crying while talking about it. Then when they return he shows them a cave where they can find safety.

Although US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has just spoken out about rampant settler violence, many in the West Bank feel the issue is not getting enough attention.

Meanwhile, radical settler violence is taking its toll: people have already fled four towns in the mountains south of Hebron since the war in the Gaza Strip began. According to human rights organizations, more than 900 people have been displaced since then. Jibri Moussa Abu Aram does not know how long he can last.