Stop Settler Violence that Leads to the Expulsion and Displacement of Palestinian Communities
- ACRI
- Aug 11
- 5 min read
Since the outbreak of the war in October 2023, expulsions and displacements of Palestinian communities (especially smaller and more vulnerable communities) in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley have increased. This is the result of harassment and violence by settlers, including: blocking access to grazing lands, harassment, threats, and violence. At least 19 Palestinian communities in Area C have been forcibly displaced. Settler attacks, which are sometimes planned and organized in advance and include dozens of armed attackers, receive at best a weak response from the army and police, and at worst assistance and support from them.
Below are examples from the many cases handled by ACRI attorney Reut Shaar, Director of the Human Rights in the Occupied Territories Department. In the appeals, ACRI noted the army's obligations under international law towards the occupied population: to maintain public order, safeguard protected residents and their property, enforce the law equally, and prevent the commission of war crimes and nationalist and racist persecution. ACRI demanded that all incidents be fully investigated, that communities and their property be protected, and the full prosecution of the attackers and any police or army personnel who act contrary to the law.
Settler Violence with Army Backing Near the Village of Mu'ayyer
A Palestinian family lives in the vicinity of the Palestinian village of Mu'ayyer and makes its living from sheep herding. Since the outbreak of the war, an illegal outpost has been established there, whose residents systematically harass, threaten, and attack the residents in order to drive them out of their homes and prevent them from working. The settlers come to the family's residential compound almost on a daily basis, harass them constantly, disrupt their daily routines, and damage property. Instead of protecting the members of the family, when army and police forces are called to the scene they restrict the family’s movements. Our appeal to the commander of IDF forces in the West Bank describes several violent incidents among many.
ACRI's appeal, February 23, 2025 (Heb)
ACRI’s appeal, April 8, 2025 (Heb)
Expulsion and Displacement of a Palestinian Herding Community in the Ramallah District
On February 25, 2025, ACRI appealed to the army and police demanding that they stop the expulsion and displacement of an impoverished Palestinian herding community in the district of Ramallah. The community, numbering about 50 men, women, and children, suffers from constant harassment, including violent attacks, vandalism, and threats from soldiers (or settlers dressed as soldiers) and settlers living in the area, and receives no protection or assistance from the police and the army. After the outbreak of war, new outposts were established around the community, and violence against it escalated.
On February 21, 2025, soldiers in a military vehicle arrived at the community, raided the residential area, attacked the women and men, destroyed the residential tents, and caused extensive destruction and damage. The soldiers informed community members that they must leave within a week, without any explanation or justification for the order and without any written orders to that effect.
ACRI's appeal, February 25, 2025 (Heb)
Establishment of an Illegal Outpost Adjacent to the Samra Community to Drive it Out
The Samra community lives in the northern Jordan Valley and earns its livelihood from raising and herding sheep. In recent years, outposts and settlements have been established around the community's residential compound, and some of the outposts have engaged in violence, harassment, threats, and blocking access to grazing lands and other vital resources in order to expel the community. On the morning of February 26, 2025, 5-6 Israeli citizens began establishing an outpost right next to the community's residential compound. Soldiers who arrived at the scene after repeated appeals to the Civil Administration shook hands with the settlers while they were engaged in establishing an illegal settlement, and did nothing to stop them or make them leave.
ACRI's appeal, February 26, 2025 (Heb)
Violence and Sheep Theft in Ras al-Ain in the Jordan Valley
On the night of Friday March 7, 2025, dozens of settler vehicles arrived at the residential area of the Ras al-Ain herding community in the southern Jordan Valley. They disembarked from their vehicles armed with firearms and clubs, and were accompanied by armed soldiers (or people dressed as soldiers). That night, hundreds of sheep were stolen from the community, the only source of livelihood for the Palestinian residents. Repeated appeals to the police were answered by saying that any complaints needed to be filed in person at the police station on Sunday—but the residents who did arrive to file a complaint as instructed were treated dismissively. None of the perpetrators were arrested or detained, and none were questioned. The only individual who was detained by the police was a Palestinian resident who tried to prevent the thefts.
ACRI's appeal, March 8, 2025 (Heb)
ACRI's appeal regarding the treatment received by residents who came to file a complaint, March 10, 2025 (Heb)
Attack on Shepherds in Hamam al-Malih in the Northern Jordan Valley
On the morning of March 11, 2025, at least seven Israeli settlers attacked two Palestinian brothers while the brothers were herding their sheep. The attack was brutally violent: settlers kicked and punched the shepherds, and beat them using clubs and iron rods. The brothers suffered injuries throughout their bodies, including head injuries, and were evacuated in order to receive medical treatment at the hospital. Army forces that arrived at the scene closed the area around the incident but did not act to locate and arrest the attackers.
ACRI's appeal, March 12, 2025 (Heb)
Establishment of Illegal Outpost Adjacent to the Village Ras al-Ain
The village of Ras al-Ain in the Jordan Valley is home to five communities, totaling about 110 families. In recent years, outposts and settlements have been established around the village's residential compound, including violent outposts. Outpost residents systematically harass and threaten the village’s Palestinian residents on a daily basis, restrict their movement in grazing areas and access to water sources, and also engage in armed break-ins in the area of the village and residential compounds, all with the clear purpose of making living conditions unbearable for the Palestinians in the village. On August 10, 2025, steps were taken to establish a new outpost very close to the homes located in the west of the village. , hundreds of meters from the village's western houses. A water pipe was set up near a sleeping area. Reaching it requires passing through the village’s private lands and will probably serve as an excuse for even more harrassment and attacks against the villagers.
ACRI's appeal, August 11, 2025 (Heb)
For links in Hebrew about this issue, see here.
The appeals were written with the assistance of field coordinator Muhannad Anati, and some with the assistance of legal intern Yotam Rotfeld
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