Why are Israeli settlers on a rampage in the occupied West Bank?
Israeli settlers, backed by military forces, have conducted multiple attacks across the occupied West Bank, including torching at least two mosques and detaining dozens of Palestinians. The escalation followed the killing of four Palestinians during a settler incursion near Nablus. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed broader military action in response.
A wave of coordinated attacks by Israeli settlers has swept through the occupied West Bank, resulting in the destruction of property and detention of Palestinian residents. The violence intensified following an incident in the town of Tal near Nablus, where Israeli forces killed four Palestinians during a settler incursion. According to accounts of the incident, nearly 30 settlers entered Tal adjacent to the illegal settlement of Havat Gilad and attempted to break into residential homes. When residents confronted the settlers, gunfire erupted. Video evidence captured a Palestinian man seizing a rifle from a settler and firing it before being shot dead by soldiers. Three additional Palestinians were killed and four others wounded in the confrontation. In response to the deaths of two Israelis, the military deployed additional troops throughout the occupied Palestinian territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the military would "act more broadly in terrorist strongholds," instructing forces to enter villages, conduct searches, seize weapons, and make arrests. Following these directives, settlers torched a mosque in Qusra village southeast of Nablus early Sunday, spraying Hebrew slogans on its walls including "Jewish revenge" and the name of one of the slain Israelis. The head of Qusra's village council reported that the village has endured repeated attacks since 2011, with frequency increasing since the Gaza conflict. Settlers also attempted to ignite a mosque near Kour southeast of Tulkarem, though worshippers extinguished the fire before it spread to the main structure. A third incident involved settlers setting fire to a Palestinian home in Beit Furik east of Nablus, with residents managing to contain the damage. Israeli Army Radio documented at least 30 settler attacks across Palestinian territories since Friday. Data cited by the military radio indicated a 63 percent surge in such incidents during the first half of 2026, with 660 recorded incidents compared to 405 in the second half of 2025.
Bell watches registries and rules change in near-real-time.