Palestinians in West Bank organise night watches amid surge in settler attacks

What happened

Al Jazeera Gaza reports a significant increase in attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian homes and land in the occupied West Bank since the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023. Palestinians, particularly in villages around Ramallah such as al-Mughayyir and Beitillu, are increasingly organising night watches and erecting physical barriers like barbed wire to protect against frequent settler raids.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The report details individual experiences, including Abdul Rahman Jabr, whose home has been repeatedly targeted — including his vehicle set on fire and windows smashed — forcing him to take protective measures in the absence of adequate security or state intervention. His neighbouring households have adopted similar defensive steps due to the lack of official protection.

According to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, part of the PLO, settlers carried out 14,742 attacks from October 7, 2023, to October 4, 2026, with 4,113 attacks recorded in the first seven months of 2026 alone, representing a 63% increase compared to 2025. These attacks range from assaults on individuals to the destruction of Palestinian agricultural assets during harvesting seasons.

Known from the source

• Settlers carried out 14,742 attacks on Palestinians or their property from October 7, 2023 to October 4, 2026, per the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission.
• 4,113 attacks were recorded in the first seven months of 2026, a 63% increase from the same period in 2025.
• Palestinians in West Bank villages including al-Mughayyir, Beitillu, and Sinjil are organising informal night watches to protect homes from settler attacks.
• Israeli army arrested six members of one village's guard committee and injured at least ten, and used tear gas to dismantle protective tents.
• Human Rights Watch reported in August that Israeli authorities have not prosecuted settlers for violence against Palestinians.

What remains unclear

Despite risks including arrests and injuries suffered by those organising village guard groups like in Sinjil, Palestinians remain determined to protect their land and homes. The Israeli army has targeted these guard groups, described as unarmed local patrols, using tear gas and demolishing temporary protective structures.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verify exact casualty or injury numbers related to settler attacks mentioned only as 'at least' figures. Confirm the accuracy and independence of the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission attack statistics. Corroborate Human Rights Watch 2026 report on Israeli authorities’ prosecution records for settler violence.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: Al Jazeera Gaza. Open the source.