West Bank settler ‘terror’ attacks rise by 63 per cent

Israeli security agencies have reported a 63 per cent increase in serious 'nationalist crimes' attributed to extremist Jewish settlers in the West Bank during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year. Israeli security services classify these incidents as terrorism. According to the report, 660 settler attacks were recorded in the first six months of this year, up from 405 in the same period in 2025. Attacks against Israeli security forces also rose by 50 per cent, reaching 45 incidents. Palestinian casualties resulting from settler violence have also increased. In the first half of 2026, 140 Palestinians were injured and six were killed, compared to 82 injuries and no fatalities during the same period in 2025. These figures exclude July, during which Kan reported approximately 100 additional 'nationalist crimes', suggesting the upward trend is continuing. Settler violence has intensified in recent years, particularly following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. Data from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet indicate that settler attacks against Palestinians and security forces in the West Bank rose by 27 per cent in 2025 compared to 2024. While these attacks occur almost daily, the prosecution of extremist Jewish settlers remains rare, and convictions are even less frequent. Critics have accused Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, described as the most right-wing in Israel’s history, of turning a blind eye to the violence. Israel’s Channel 13 reported last month that the cabinet quietly approved a plan in March to counter this trend, including financial sanctions against violent 'hilltop youth'. The plan and Netanyahu’s strong criticism of the phenomenon were not made public due to political considerations. During discussions on the plan, Netanyahu reportedly described the violence against Palestinians in the West Bank as a 'metastasising cancer', which, if accurate, represents one of his strongest public stances on the issue. Meanwhile, the IDF has reported a decline in Palestinian 'terror' attacks, including stabbings, shootings, and vehicle-ramming incidents in 2025. The army recorded 57 such attacks that year, resulting in 20 deaths. Additionally, two Israeli soldiers were killed in an attack by a Jordanian citizen at the Allenby Bridge crossing in September. By comparison, there were 258 attacks with 35 deaths in 2024, and 847 attacks with 41 deaths in 2023. The IDF attributes this decline to 'continuous offensive activity' in attack hotspots, particularly refugee camps in the northern West Bank.