The United Nations human rights office has raised concerns over escalating violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, warning of a sharp increase in attacks against Palestinians and calling for international measures to address the issue. According to UN data, 18 Palestinians have been killed in incidents linked to settler violence so far this year, surpassing the total of 17 recorded throughout 2025.
The Palestinian Authority reports that at least 20 Palestinians have been killed by settlers since the beginning of the year. A recent incident last Friday saw the deaths of four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers—one of whom was serving as a security coordinator for a nearby settlement—during clashes near the Palestinian village of Tal, southwest of Nablus. The violence erupted as a crowd of partially armed Israeli settlers approached the village.
Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that settlers, often accompanied by Israeli security forces, have engaged in attacks on local Palestinian communities. These actions have included assaulting families, destroying and confiscating property, and burning mosques. Requests for comment from the Israeli government and military had not been answered at the time of reporting.
The human rights office noted that settler violence and what it terms as ongoing annexation efforts in Palestinian territories have intensified since a July 2024 ruling by the International Court of Justice. The court declared Israel's occupation and settlement activities in the West Bank illegal and called for their withdrawal. Israel rejected the ruling, describing it as “fundamentally wrong” and one-sided.
The surge in violence corresponds with the onset of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, which has been accompanied by reports from the UN, rights organizations, and Palestinian officials indicating a sharp rise in settler attacks.
Adding to tensions, Israel’s security cabinet approved a budget of 1.3 billion shekels ($434 million) earlier in July to establish 34 new settlements in the West Bank. This territory was captured by Israel in the 1967 war and remains a focal point for Palestinian aspirations for statehood. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a proponent of full annexation of the West Bank, described the decision as “historic.”
Most international bodies, including the United Nations and Palestinian authorities, consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law and view them as significant obstacles to peace. Israel disputes this characterization, maintaining that its settlement policies comply with its legal interpretations.