Escalating Settler Attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem: 32 New Outposts Established in August

 

GHLands : Settlers on Monday escalated their attacks across the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, targeting Palestinians, damaging agricultural crops, and destroying water and electricity networks. They also fenced off Palestinian-owned land in the Jordan Valley in preparation for taking control of it.

South of Beita, settlers attacked the Abu al-Hamra area and an agricultural shed belonging to the family of Samer Yusuf Abu Mazen. Two Palestinians were assaulted and sustained bruises as a result of the attack.

Settlers also cut and damaged electricity poles along the road between Beita and Osrin, causing power outages in a number of homes.

In occupied Jerusalem, settlers carried out attacks in several neighborhoods, towns, and along major roads, including physical assaults, stone-throwing at vehicles, and vandalism targeting Palestinian property and shops, under the protection of Israeli occupation forces.

In Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Salfit governorates, settlers carried out attacks on villages and towns located near settlements. These attacks included setting fire to agricultural land, throwing stones at vehicles, and assaulting farmers in an effort to prevent them from reaching and cultivating their lands.

In the northern Jordan Valley, settlers fenced off large areas of privately owned Palestinian land in the Masafer Wadi al-Hussein and al-Hadidiya areas, restricting Palestinians’ access to and use of their property and raising concerns over further seizures of pasture and agricultural land.

The escalation comes amid continued settler attacks throughout the Jordan Valley, where land leveling, fencing, and attempts to seize Palestinian land have been ongoing for years, placing increasing restrictions on residents and threatening their livelihoods.

According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, Israeli occupation forces and settlers carried out 2,030 attacks against Palestinians, their lands, and property across the West Bank and Jerusalem during August.

Settler attacks accounted for 628 of those incidents, resulting in the killing of one Palestinian child and injuries or direct harm to 164 Palestinians. The attacks also damaged or uprooted 21,508 trees, including 19,375 olive trees.

During August, settlers also attempted to establish 32 new settlement outposts, with the stated objective of expanding control over rural and pastoral lands and further isolating Palestinian communities.