West Bank Violence Escalates as Settlers Exploit Iran War Restrictions
Since the commencement of US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran on 28 February 2026, violence in the occupied West Bank has surged dramatically. Israeli settlers are reportedly exploiting military-imposed movement restrictions, leading to increased attacks on Palestinian communities. According to the Palestinian health ministry, at least five Palestinians have been killed by settlers in the West Bank during this period, with an additional man dying after inhaling teargas fired during an assault.
Movement Restrictions and Increased Vulnerability
The Israeli military implemented significant curbs on movement at the start of the conflict, blocking numerous West Bank roads with iron gates and earth mounds while largely closing crossings with Israel. These measures, described as preemptive while conducting airstrikes on Iran and Lebanese group Hezbollah, have created dangerous conditions for Palestinians. Residents of remote West Bank villages describe feeling increasingly vulnerable to settler violence due to these roadblocks, which also impede ambulance access to victims.
Medical personnel report that the new roadblocks have led to dangerous delays in reaching injured Palestinians. "There are obstacles - and even attacks by settlers and the military on the medical crews," said Ahmed Jibril, spokesman for the Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance service. The Israeli military continues its frequent raids in Palestinian cities and towns, often resulting in arrests without charge, a practice common even during peacetime.
Recent Attacks and Fatalities
Among the recent victims was Thaer Farouq Hamayel, 24, who was shot dead along with Farea Hamayel, 57, before dawn on Sunday in Abu Falah, north of Ramallah. Witnesses described how over 100 settlers gathered on the outskirts of the village, prompting local men to organize via WhatsApp to defend their community. The initial confrontation involved stone throwing, but armed settlers arrived later and began shooting.
"Thaer loved life. I never expected he would die," said Malak Beirat, Thaer's widow, fighting back tears as she sat with her two children. Her husband was shot dead while trying to protect a house from attack according to a man who helped defend the village. Blood remained visible in olive groves at the scene days later, where villagers erected two Palestinian flags at the spots where the men were killed.
Additional fatalities include Amir Muhammad Shanaran, shot dead in a village near Hebron on Saturday, and brothers Muhammad and Fahim ‘Azem, killed in Qaryut southeast of Nablus last Monday. Israeli monitoring group Yesh Din reports over 109 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians since the start of the war with Iran, including shootings, physical assaults, property damage, and threats.
Systemic Issues and International Response
Rights groups highlight systemic problems in addressing settler violence. "Taking advantage of the war, armed settler militias, often operating with support from the army, continue to attack and harass Palestinian communities across the West Bank in an effort to force them out," said Israeli rights group B'Tselem. In three of the recent settler shootings, the settlers were wearing Israeli army uniform according to Yesh Din.
The Israeli military states it has launched an investigation into the Abu Falah incident and condemns "violence of any kind." However, Israeli indictments of settler violence remain rare. Yesh Din reports that of hundreds of cases documented since the Hamas-led attacks in October 2023, only 2% resulted in indictments by the end of 2025.
The United Nations reports nearly 700 Palestinians were displaced by settler violence from the start of 2025 through early February 2026. Meanwhile, Israel's government has expanded settlements in what Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich describes as an effort to bury the idea of a Palestinian state. Right-wing Israeli minister Yossi Dagan recently announced establishment of a new settlement overlooking Nablus, one of 22 new settlements announced by the Israeli government last May.
Most of the international community considers Israel's settlement activity in the West Bank illegal under international law relating to military occupations, though Israel disputes this view. Over 700,000 settlers now live in East Jerusalem and the West Bank among more than 3 million Palestinians according to a 2024 European Union report, creating ongoing tensions in the contested territory.
