Palestinian communities in the West Bank continue to face increasing challenges amid rising settler violence and expanding Israeli settlements, raising concerns about the prospects for a contiguous Palestinian state. Over the past three years, under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, incidents of settler attacks on Palestinians have intensified, often occurring with little intervention by the Israeli military, which is responsible for maintaining public order as the occupying force.
According to United Nations data, more than 1,400 settler attacks were recorded in the West Bank this year alone, nearly matching the 1,836 incidents reported in 2025, which was the highest annual total since UN records began. This rise in violence has resulted in significant displacement, with over 41,500 Palestinians reportedly uprooted in the last 18 months. The pattern of attacks and military raids has resulted in over 1,000 Palestinian fatalities in the West Bank over the past three years.
In an effort seen by many as solidifying Israeli control over the territory, the Israeli government recently issued tenders for approximately 1,200 new housing units in the E1 area of the West Bank. Critics argue that the development would further fragment the territory, effectively dividing it and undermining any future possibility of creating a contiguous Palestinian state. This move marks a shift from previous Israeli governments, which had shelved such plans due to their controversial nature. Netanyahu’s government appears to be accelerating settlement expansion ahead of elections scheduled for October.
The situation has prompted international attention and varying responses. Several Western countries, including certain European states, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, have imposed sanctions on two Israeli ministers—Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich—both of whom are settlers and have been described as extremist by some observers. Sanctions have also targeted certain settler organizations. Still, many critics argue that these measures have been insufficient and too delayed to alter the trajectory on the ground.
The Israeli government has also taken significant administrative steps. Defense Minister Israel Katz recently directed the military to prepare for transferring law-enforcement powers in the West Bank to the Israeli police, a move that would extend Israeli civilian authority over Palestinian areas and is viewed by some as a form of de facto annexation.
Responses from the international community have included calls for stronger measures. The Netherlands has announced plans to ban imports from Israeli settlements, with the United Kingdom reportedly considering a similar approach. Israel reacted by expelling Dutch representatives from a US-led coordination center established to support post-conflict efforts in Gaza. Some Western officials argue that more unified actions are needed, such as sanctions targeting Israeli entities involved in settlement construction and financing, as well as a potential suspension of the European Union’s association agreement with Israel.
Meanwhile, the focus of much international attention remains on Gaza, where over 70,000 Palestinians have died in recent conflict. However, analysts caution that the crisis in the West Bank is a parallel and worsening situation that merits increased global scrutiny.
Israel maintains it has legitimate security concerns driving its policies in the West Bank, but critics contend that the expansion of settlements and shift toward civilian control is ideologically motivated and exacerbates instability in the region. With elections approaching and tensions rising, the future of the West Bank and the viability of a Palestinian state appear increasingly uncertain.