"Finger on the Pulse:" A Report from Protective Presence Activists

Protective Presence Finger on the Pulse Report July 2026.

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Photo from 2014. A Palestinian shepherd in the Jordan Valley near a sign designating a closed military zone. Declaring closed military zones serves as a means of restricting Palestinian access to grazing and agricultural lands. Photo: © Rrodrickbeiler | Dreamstime.com

“Protective presence” is one of the primary forms of assistance provided by activists on behalf of Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Shepherding communities and small villages throughout the West Bank face daily attacks by settlers and indifference, if not outright assistance, from the military and police. During an incursion or attack, protective presence activists intervene nonviolently, with the aim of de-escalating the situation; documenting the incident; and, if the Palestinians wish, mediating between Palestinians and the police or military. 

More than ten protective presence groups operate daily across the West Bank, primarily in the northern Jordan Valley, central West Bank, the area of Masafer Yatta area, and the area of Ramallah. In early 2026, the “Situation Room” coalition was established, bringing together representatives from all of the activist groups as well as representatives from various grassroots organizations in order to coordinate legal, diplomatic, and media efforts. 

One of the Situation Room’s initiatives is a documentation system that consolidates reports of violent incidents and other offenses from all areas where protective presence groups operate. This is especially important because protective presence activists are in a unique position that enables them to provide accurate, real-time information from the field, particularly from places where there are no other Israeli or international activists, or media organizations. This unique information allows the Situation Room to be the first to identify developments and trends that are changing conditions on the ground and affecting the lives of Palestinians. 

As part of their documentation efforts, activists holding key roles in the field groups participate in a monthly update meeting, during which they identify trends, changes, and noteworthy incidents. The Situation Room’s documentation coordinator then collects and edits these reports into a monthly report, Finger on the Pulse, which includes a summary of events and an analysis of emerging issues. 

The June 2026 report of the protective presence organizations describes a coordinated, multidimensional escalation in the pressure exerted on Palestinian communities in the West Bank: an increase in physical violence, theft, and attacks by larger groups of settlers; systemic damage to pipelines, water tanks, and water sources that threaten households, agriculture, and livestock; the establishment of outposts designed to surround communities and block access routes; the excavation of the Crimson Thread Barrier by the military that restricts movement and damages the agricultural land and water supply; and the use of heritage sites, military orders, and bureaucratic mechanisms to limit construction, development, and cultivation for Palestinians. The military and police enforce the law weakly and selectively, and at times cooperate with settlers. In exceptional cases, law enforcement or legal support has led to a reduction in violence, but even then, the cumulative effect of threats, arrests, roadblocks, and the lack of trust in the authorities causes farmers to forgo access to their land in advance of any official notice. 

You can view the full report here.