West Bank: Israeli settler violence triggers largest forcible transfer since October 2023

Three communities comprising 119 Palestinians have been forced out over the past 10 days after Israeli settlers attacked community members in their homes, erected new settler outposts and blocked access to water. Two communities, Al-Farsiya Khallet Khader and Al-Farisiya al-Zu'bi, have been completely depopulated, while only one family remains in the third community, Ein al-Hilweh – Um al-Jmal.

“We are urgently appealing to the international community, including to the United States and the European Union, to intervene with the Israeli authorities and protect these vulnerable communities. Those that left want to return to their lands and livelihoods as soon as it is safe,” said Allegra Pacheco, chief of party of the NRC-led West Bank Protection Consortium (WBPC).

“Israeli authorities, as the occupying power, bear direct responsibility for the actions of violent settlers. These attacks, occurring in broad daylight under the watching eyes and the protective force of the Israeli military, highlight the unlawfulness of Israel’s presence in the West Bank, as recently ruled by the International Court of Justice. Palestinians are being forced to leave their land in what clearly constitutes a grave breach of international humanitarian law.”

Overall, 18 communities in the Al-Maleh region in the northeastern West Bank, all of which are supported by the WBPC, have already been displaced or are at imminent risk of forcible transfer due to ongoing settler violence. It is estimated that nearly a quarter of a million euros’ worth of humanitarian assistance provided by the WBPC is potentially impacted, with some aid already destroyed or looted by settlers.

“The consortium has worked for years, with the support of our donors, to improve the lives and livelihoods of these vulnerable Palestinian communities. By destroying their properties and sources of income, Israeli settlers have not only violated Palestinians’ rights, but they have also caused substantial damage to any progress contributed by donors and humanitarian agencies,” added Pacheco.

NRC urges the international community to push Israel to prohibit Israeli settlers from entering Palestinian residential, agricultural and grazing areas. Military orders must close down all settler outposts, illegal under Israeli law, from where violence is planned and perpetrated. All necessary measures must be taken to investigate, prosecute and sanction those found responsible for these attacks.

Notes to editors:

• Formed in 2015 to prevent the forcible transfer of Palestinians in the West Bank, the WBPC is a strategic partnership of five international NGOs led by NRC. The consortium is supported by 11 European Union donors, together with the United Kingdom, Canada, and EU Humanitarian Aid.
• Communities affected in the latest wave of forcible transfer include: Ein al-Hilweh – Um al-Jmal (72 persons), Al-Farsiya Khallet Khader (40 persons), and Al-Farisiya al-Zu'bi (7 persons).
• New settler outposts were established in the communities with support from the Israeli Settlement Council.
• At least 1,539 Palestinians were displaced during 2023 due to Israeli settler violence and shrinking access to grazing land, according to the UN. 774 Palestinians were displaced in 2022 due to settler violence.
• After residents of Al-Farsiya Khallet Khader fled, settlers looted the community and stole nine tents, four of which were tents for animals and were donor funded. 

For information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

• NRC's global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
• Ahmed Bayram, Middle East and North Africa regional media advisor: ahmed.bayram@nrc.no, +962 790 160 147