Escalation of Settler Violence Displaces Palestinians in West Bank

The displacement of Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank has reached alarming levels, as evidenced by the recent forced evacuation of Al-Mu’arrajat East in the Jordan Valley. On Thursday evening, July 3, 2025, Israeli settlers, supported by military forces, forced the remaining 20 Palestinian families in the village to abandon their homes. This marked the culmination of years of escalating violence in the region, leaving families without shelter, water, or basic necessities.

The Attack on Al-Mu’arrajat East

The village of Al-Mu’arrajat East had long been under threat from settlers of the nearby Israeli settlement Movot Yorihu. According to Middle East Eye, settlers began their assault by pitching tents near the village, a tactic that has become increasingly common in the West Bank. Witnesses reported that the settlers, numbering around 50, arrived armed and speaking fluent Arabic, shouting at residents to “flee to Jordan.” The attack was led by Zohar Sabah, a sanctioned settler known for previous violent acts in the region.

Resident Aliya Mlihat described the traumatic events, recounting how settlers went door-to-door, threatening families at gunpoint. She noted the complicity of Israeli border police and military forces, who not only failed to intervene but actively facilitated the settlers’ actions. “The expressions on the soldiers’ faces revealed satisfaction—joy, even—as if they were endorsing the settlers’ actions,” Mlihat told Middle East Eye. By the end of the night, the remaining families dismantled their homes, loading their belongings onto trucks and leaving their ancestral land behind.

The displaced families have since scattered across nearby villages and refugee camps, where they face dire conditions. Mlihat detailed the struggles her family is enduring, including her sister’s deteriorating mental health and her father’s breathing difficulties caused by injuries sustained during the attack.

A Broader Pattern of Displacement

The events in Al-Mu’arrajat East are not isolated. According to B’Tselem, similar tactics have been employed across the West Bank, particularly in Area C, which constitutes 60% of the territory and remains under full Israeli control. Settlers often establish outposts on Palestinian grazing lands, restricting access to water and other resources. In many cases, these actions are carried out under the protection of Israeli military forces, emboldened by the far-right Israeli government.

Shaina Low, a communications advisor for the Norwegian Refugee Council, explained that these actions amount to forcible transfer, a violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. “What we’re seeing is the erasure of Palestinian communities in the West Bank,” she said. The recent approval of 22 new settlements in May 2025 has further exacerbated the situation, leading to a surge in violence and displacement.

In May, a nearby Bedouin community, Mughayir ad-Deir, faced a similar fate when settlers expanded an outpost in the village, forcing 125 residents to flee. The displaced families now live in the industrial zone of Beitunia, where they lack access to water and electricity. Another village, Ras Ein al-Auja, is also under threat following the establishment of a new settler outpost in June.

International Implications and Inaction

The systematic displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank has far-reaching implications. As Low explained to Middle East Eye, the removal of Palestinian communities enables the expansion of Israeli settlements, undermining the possibility of a two-state solution. “If the Palestinian communities are removed from these areas, it means that Israel will be able to expand their settlement project,” she said. This could connect existing settlements, effectively annexing large parts of the West Bank.

Despite frequent visits by international diplomats to endangered Palestinian villages, the global community has largely failed to take meaningful action. While statements condemning the violence are common, concrete measures to prevent displacement remain elusive. As Low pointed out, the lack of international intervention allows the situation to deteriorate further, leaving displaced Palestinians with few options for relocation and forcing many into debt as they sell their livestock to survive.

For the residents of Al-Mu’arrajat East, the loss of their homes represents not just a personal tragedy but a broader struggle for their identity and heritage. “What is happening cannot be explained as merely the actions of a few extremist groups—it is part of an official state policy aimed at full control over our land,” Mlihat said.

The forced displacement of Palestinian communities in the West Bank is a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges to peace and stability in the region. Without decisive action, the situation is likely to worsen, further eroding the prospects for a just and lasting resolution.