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Area C communities forcibly transferred under cover of Gaza war (Last updated: 17 July 2025)

Since October 2023, military attacks and violence by settlers and the military in the West Bank have led to the displacement of Palestinians on a scale not seen since Israel’s occupation of the West Bank in 1967. During this period, dozens of Palestinian communities – home to more than 2,000 people – have been forcibly displaced from their homes in Area C as a result of the violence. As of June 2025, thousands more residents of dozens of other Palestinian communities remain at real risk of expulsion due to daily settler attacks.

Palestinian communities in Area C have long been the target of Israeli authorities, but these efforts have intensified dramatically since October 2023. Backed by the state, settlers have established dozens of herding outposts around these communities in recent years. Their primary goal: to drive Palestinians off the land and seize as much territory as possible. The violence perpetrated by settlers living in these outposts has escalated sharply, reaching unprecedented levels during the months of Israel’s assault on Gaza. This terrifying daily routine includes severe physical assaults, settler incursions into communities and homes at all hours, arson, expulsion of shepherds from pastureland and farmers from their fields, killing and theft of livestock, destruction of crops, theft of equipment and personal belongings, and blocking of access roads.

For reports on home demolitions and property confiscations by Israeli authorities in these and other communities facing forced displacement, click here. Detailed reports on state backed settler violence in these communities can be found below the list.

* The list is continuously revised to reflect the most recent information available to B’Tselem.

 

Entire community driven out

Community District Date of expulsion Number of clusters Number of families Number of persons Number of minors
1 Khirbet a-Taybah (Tarqumya) Hebron 07 October 2023 1 10 47 6
2 Khallet al-Hamra Bethlehem 08 October 2023 3 2 11 5
3 Bariyet Hizma al-Quds 08 October 2023 2 2 18 4
4 Kh. a-Radhem Hebron 13 October 2023 2 2 20 11
5 Southern a-Nassariyah Nablus 13 October 2023 3 5 25 13
6 Ein a-Rashash Ramallah and al-Bira 16 October 2023 1 18 85 25
7 Wadi a-Siq Ramallah and al-Bira 19 October 2023 1 30 180 40
8 Bariyet Tuqu' Bethlehem 19 October 2023 10 8 69 25
9 Maktal Msallam Hebron 20 October 2023 1 1 8 5
10 Atiriyah Hebron 23 October 2023 1 2 31 20
11 Kh. 'Enizan Hebron 29 October 2023 1 4 35 20
12 al-Qanoub Hebron 01 November 2023 7 8 40 24
13 Kh. Zanutah Hebron 01 November 2023 1 27 250 100
14 Kh. Tana Nablus 09 November 2023 1 18 135 51
15 Badu al-Mu'arrajat center Ramallah and al-Bira 10 December 2023 4 20 140 90
16 Kh.Jib'it Ramallah and al-Bira 10 December 2023 1 8 25 10
17 Ramun East (Wadi a-Siq North) Ramallah and al-Bira 10 December 2023 1 6 30 12
18 al-Marajmah Ramallah and al-Bira 31 December 2023 1 4 30 17
19 'Ein Harashah Ramallah and al-Bira 31 December 2023 2 3 30 0
20 Farkhah ('Iraq a-Sakhrah) Salfit 12 January 2024 1 3 18 12
21 Wadi ‘Abayat Bethlehem 15 February 2024 1 1 10 8
22 ‘Ein a-Sukhun Nablus 21 March 2024 1 5 37 19
23 Khallet al-mgharah Ramallah and al-Bira 20 June 2024 1 10 50 20
24 Kh. Um al-Jamal Tubas 16 August 2024 1 13 78 43
25 Kh. Wadi al-Faw Tubas 10 September 2024 1 2 18 13
26 Juret al-Kheil Hebron 22 October 2024 1 10 40 16
27 'Ein Duma Nablus 15 November 2024 1 1 16 8
28 Wadi a-Sah'ir Nablus 31 December 2024 1 9 54 38
29 Wad al-Abyad (East al-Maniyah) Bethlehem 14 February 2025 4 5 19 9
30 al-'Alya (al-Jizi) Ramallah and al-Bira 21 February 2025 1 1 8
31 Kh. Abu a-Rish Salfit 28 February 2025 1 6 29 11
32 Lifjim Nablus 22 March 2025 1 3 18 3
33 ‘Ara’rah family (al-Mazra’ah a-Sharqiyah) Ramallah and al-Bira 21 April 2025 1 2 7 3
34 a-Rabi'ah Bethlehem 30 April 2025 1 3 17 12
35 Maghayer a-Deir Ramallah and al-Bira 22 May 2025 1 23 150 75
36 al-Yatatwah (al-Mazra’ah a-Sharqiyah) Ramallah and al-Bira 22 June 2025 1 20 190 90
37 a-Da'ak (South-West Kobar) Ramallah and al-Bira 30 June 2025 1 9 19 10
38 Badu al-Mu’arrajat east (Mleihat) Jericho 04 July 2025 2 36 228 108
Total 67 340 2215 976

Part of community driven out

Community District Date of expulsion Number of clusters Number of families Number of persons Number of minors
1 South Ein Shibli Nablus 13 October 2023 1 3 28 14
2 Kh. Susiya Hebron 14 October 2023 1 2 18 9
3 Kh. Samrah Tubas 15 October 2023 2 13 76 32
4 Badu Jebas-East Taybah Ramallah and al-Bira 27 October 2023 1 2 19 1
5 Kh. Tall al-Himma Tubas 05 November 2023 1 1 4 0
6 Nab’ al-Ghazal (al-Farisiyah) Tubas 10 December 2023 1 1 7 1
7 Bariyet Kisan Bethlehem 31 December 2023 1 10 35 18
8 Wadi Qatunyah Ramallah and al-Bira 19 December 2024 1 1 7 5
Total 9 33 194 80
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In recent years — and especially since 7 October 2023 — there has been a sharp increase in both the number and severity of settler attacks against Palestinians. The incidents reported on this blog do not reflect all incidents of settler violence in the West Bank, but only those that B’Tselem was able to document and investigate.


Displaying 1-20 of 51 updates. An update can cover more than one incident.

2025

April
a-Rakeez
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinan teen and shot his father, who lost a leg. Soldiers arrested the injured father and his son

2024

November
She'b al-Batem
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
 Israeli armed forces forbidding one of the farmers from harvesting on his land Photo courtesy of activists
Israeli armed forces forbidding one of the farmers from harvesting on his land Photo courtesy of activists
She’b al-Batem, Hebron District: Soldiers and police officers drove Palestinian harvesters off their land
July
She'b al-Batem
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
Masked Israeli settlers attack Palestinian family with clubs; soldiers and police arrest Palestinian
May
She'b al-Batem
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
A drone flown by the settlement guard driving sheep belonging to one of the residents away. Photo courtesy of activists
A drone flown by the settlement guard driving sheep belonging to one of the residents away. Photo courtesy of activists
She’b al-Batem, South Hebron Hills: Israeli settler harassed Palestinian residents in their homes for about a week
April
She'b al-Batem
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
Jabarin’s pickup truck in flames. Photo courtesy of Jabarin
Jabarin’s pickup truck in flames. Photo courtesy of Jabarin
She’b al-Batem, South Hebron Hills: Settlers set fire to a truck
March
Um al-Kheir
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
At around 11:00 A.M., while Khalil Hadhalin (42), a local resident was grazing his flock near some houses in the community, three settlers arrived in a car, got out of it, approached the flock, threw stones at it and kicked the goats. The settlers broke the leg of one of the goats and then drove the flock towards community homes, verbally abused Hadhalin and left. The goat that was hurt died the next day. Hadhalin filed a complaint at the Israel Police station in Kiryat Arba.
Um al-Kheir
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
Um al-Kheir, South Hebron Hills: Four settlers attacked residents in a hospitality tent, cursing and threatening them
a-Rakeez
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
Ashraf al-’Amur being taken to the hospital. Photo courtesy of the activists
Ashraf al-’Amur being taken to the hospital. Photo courtesy of the activists
Khirbet a-Rakeez, South Hebron Hills: Four soldiers, one known as a settler, attacked two Palestinian residents
February
a-Rakeez
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
Part of the fence vandalized by the settlers. Photo courtesy of the landowner.
Part of the fence vandalized by the settlers. Photo courtesy of the landowner.
Khirbet a-Rakeez, Masafer Yatta, South Hebron Hills: Israeli settlers vandalize fences, cut down fruit trees and steal water tanks
She'b al-Batem
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
While Ishaq Jabarin was grazing his flock on his land, four settlers entered the plot, hit sheep and shouted at Jabarin to leave. Soldiers who were there also ordered Jabarin out of his land, claiming it was a closed military zone.
Sadet a-Tha'lah
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
Still from video
Still from video
At around 8:30 A.M., while eight shepherds from the community were grazing their flock on their private lands accompanied by Israeli activists, eight soldiers arrived in a military jeep headed by an officer known to the residents as a local settler. They called the shepherds and activists over to them and checked their ID cards. Another military jeep arrived about ten minutes later, and stopped about 70 meters from the pastureland. A soldier who got out of the jeep flew a drone over the flock, scattering it, and then the soldiers chased the animals. The shepherds tried to gather the frightened animals and lead them back to the fold, and then the soldiers began chasing after them as well. The officer, known to the residents as a settler, detained one shepherd, Yusef Makhamrah on site for about 20 minutes. The rest of the shepherds, meanwhile, managed to lead the flock back to the fold, but due to the panic, 11 goats died and 37 miscarried their fetuses. A short while later, a soldier known to the residents as a settler arrived in the community and presented the shepherds with a document declaring their pasturelands a closed military zone for 30 days.
January
Um al-Kheir
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
In the evening, settlers came to the community and threw stones at homes, but did not cause damage. Residents called the police, who refused to send officers. Instead, soldiers arrived, but they did nothing and left soon after together with the settlers.
She'b al-Batem
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
In the morning, three settlers, two of them armed, entered community land with a flock of sheep, wandered around for some time and left. At 2:00 P.M., they returned once again with a flock, and this time drew near community homes and set the flock to graze in an olive grove, damaging trees there. Community residents Ziad a-Najar (45) called the police, who arrived only after the settlers had left. The police officers followed the settlers and then returned and informed the residents they were forbidden to graze their flocks on the land as it was declared a closed military zone.
Sadet a-Tha'lah
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
2
A soldier ordering a Palestinian to stop plowing private land owned by residents of Sadet a-Thala’h, South Hebron Hills. Photo: Solidarity activists, 4 Jan. 2024
A soldier ordering a Palestinian to stop plowing private land owned by residents of Sadet a-Thala’h, South Hebron Hills. Photo: Solidarity activists, 4 Jan. 2024
Sadet a-Tha’lah, South Hebron Hills: Israeli soldiers that residents recognized as settlers prevented them from plowing village land on two occasions

2023

December
a-Rakeez
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
In the afternoon, Hani Rab’i discovered that settlers had entered his land, vandalized the door of a room used for resting, and stolen a generator and agricultural equipment. When he tried to check on his crops, soldiers arrived and drove him off his land.
Sadet a-Tha'lah
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
The guard of a nearby settlement prevented Yusef ‘Alayan Da’ud from going to his land, which lies 50 meters from his home, detained him for an hour and a half, and threatened to detain him again and take away his tractor if he tried to enter his land again.
November
She'b al-Batem
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
On the morning, Muhammad Jabarin discovered that settlers had again gone to his house, uprooted about 30 olive trees and stolen a barbed-wire fence. That day, at 1:00 P.M., while Jabarin was there, three settlers arrived again. Jabarin fled some distance away, and the settlers then shouted they would shoot him if he returned. The settlers vandalized water tanks and a drainage channel in the community school, and uprooted about 20 olive trees.
Sadet a-Tha'lah
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
Settlers punctured pipes that carry water from Um al-Kheir to Sadet a-Tha'leh.
She'b al-Batem
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
In the morning, Muhammad Jabarin, who has been sleeping at a neighbor’s home for a month with his family for fear of settler attacks, discovered the settlers had again arrived at his house, destroyed parts of the roof, vandalized furniture inside, chopped down trees and damaged other crops.
Sadet a-Tha'lah
Incident(s) :
Incident Count
1
At 10:00 P.M., about five settlers arrived at the community and torched a tree standing next to piles of fodder for flocks. The residents quickly put out the flames before the fodder caught fire, and the settlers left.
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