‘Ein Duma, Nablus District: An extended Palestinian family was forced out of its home by settler violence

Settlers near the family home. Photo courtesy of the family

A window smashed by settlers in the family’s home. Photo courtesy of the family

On Friday, 15 November 2024, at around 10:00 A.M., about five settlers arrived at the eastern end of the village of Duma, near the home of the extended ‘Ara’rah family. The family of 16, including eight minors, makes its living from shepherding. The settlers shouted over loudspeakers, swearing at the family members, and attacked the home with stones, smashing its windows. After about an hour, more settlers arrived. They were armed and had the settlement guard with them. Fearing for their lives, the family gathered their belongings and left. Due to the ongoing presence of settlers near the home, the family was too afraid to return and had to rent a house in the center of the village of Duma.



Israel’s regime of apartheid and occupation is inextricably bound up in human rights violations. B’Tselem strives to end this regime, as that is the only way forward to a future in which human rights, democracy, liberty and equality are ensured to all people, both Palestinian and Israeli, living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

Since the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, Israel has acted in a coordinated and deliberate manner to destroy Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip, committing genocide against its residents. In light of Israel’s actions in Gaza, the public statements made by Israeli decision-makers, and the international community’s failure to take effective action, there is a serious risk that the Israeli regime will expand the genocide to other areas under its control—first and foremost, the West Bank.
B’Tselem calls on the Israeli public and the international community to use every tool available under international law to bring an immediate end to Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people.