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Israeli settlers carry out arson attacks in West Bank amid surge in violence
Dozens of Israeli settlers launched coordinated arson attacks on Tuesday, targeting a Palestinian warehouse, a Bedouin village, and farmland in the northern occupied West Bank, injuring several Palestinians. The incidents mark the latest escalation in settler violence during the olive harvest season, which has seen a record number of attacks this year.
Attacks coincide with olive harvest season
The violence unfolded as Palestinians accessed their agricultural lands, a period historically marked by heightened tensions. Footage showed masked men setting fire to a warehouse in Beit Lid, torching lorries, and burning tents in the Bedouin village of Deir Sharaf. Palestinian Authority Minister Muayyad Shaaban condemned the attacks as part of a broader campaign to create "a hostile environment through intimidation and terror."
According to the UN's humanitarian office, October recorded the highest number of settler attacks-over 260-since tracking began nearly 20 years ago. This year's olive harvest alone has seen roughly 150 attacks, injuring 140 Palestinians and damaging over 4,200 trees across 77 villages.
Israeli military and political responses
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed troops intervened to disperse clashes, arresting several Israeli civilians. However, soldiers were subsequently attacked by settlers, with one military vehicle damaged. Four suspects were detained, Israeli police stated.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the violence as "shocking and serious," emphasizing that attacks on civilians and IDF personnel "cross a red line." Major-General Avi Bluth, head of the IDF Central Command, called the incidents "unacceptable" and vowed firm action against perpetrators, directing soldiers to prevent "any act of nationalist crime."
"The reality in which anarchist fringe youth act violently against innocent civilians and against security forces is unacceptable and is extremely serious. It must be dealt with firmly."
Major-General Avi Bluth, IDF Central Command
Systemic impunity and escalating tensions
Israeli rights group Yesh Din reported that 93.8% of 1,701 police investigations into settler offenses against Palestinians between 2005-2024 were closed without indictments. The UN's Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, Tom Fletcher, criticized the lack of accountability, stating, "The failure to prevent or punish such attacks is inconsistent with international law."
Tuesday's violence coincided with the funeral of 13-year-old Aysam Mualla in Beita, who died after inhaling tear gas fired by the IDF during clashes near the Evyatar outpost last month. Over the weekend, settlers attacked Palestinian harvesters, volunteers, and journalists in Beita and Burin, stealing olives and injuring civilians.
Settlement expansion accelerates
Amid the violence, settlement expansion continues unabated. Peace Now reported that 2025 has seen a record 5,667 new housing units tendered in West Bank settlements-enough for 25,000 residents. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who oversees civilian affairs in the West Bank, has prioritized accelerating settlement growth, including retroactively legalizing unauthorized outposts, as part of efforts to "de facto annex" the territory and block Palestinian statehood.
The settlements, home to 700,000 Israelis, are considered illegal under international law. The 3.3 million Palestinians in the West Bank face escalating displacement risks as violence and land seizures intensify.
