Quique Kierszenbaum

Palestinian Americans in Turmus Ayya and nearby Deir Dibwan describe escalating attacks by Israeli settlers, including arson, gunfire, intimidation and land seizures. Many residents hold US citizenship and have appealed to the US embassy, but say consular assistance has been limited and inconsistent. The article links the violence to support for West Bank settlements from US ambassador Mike Huckabee and to the Trump administration’s removal of sanctions against violent settlers. Israeli authorities have charged six settlers over violence in Deir Dibwan, while residents say Washington could do far more to protect them and restrain Israel and the settlers.

Israel is preparing an extensive West Bank military operation after a confrontation in Tell, near Nablus, left four Palestinians and two Israelis dead. Palestinian accounts say armed settlers entered the village with Israeli military support, prompting a struggle and gunfire; the Israeli military characterizes the incident as a terrorist attack and says it will arrest dozens of Palestinians. Israeli leaders are calling for more troops, home demolitions, weapons seizures, permit revocations and expanded settlements, while Palestinian officials condemn the violence and report further settler attacks, arson and injuries in nearby towns. The developments risk a major escalation in already intense West Bank violence.

Israel’s far-right coalition is threatening to take control of Solomon’s Pools, an ancient water complex near Bethlehem that lies in an Area A zone designated for Palestinian civil and police control under the 1995 Oslo Accord. The reservoirs, dating from the second century BCE with later Roman, Ottoman and British modifications, now serve as a major recreational site for nearby Palestinians. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and politician Zvi Sukkot have publicly advocated an Israeli takeover, while settlers and soldiers have increased incursions, including a July raid in which tear gas was fired as children swam. Palestinian officials and archaeologists say the move would undermine the Palestinian Authority, establish a precedent for seizing Area A territory and promote a narrowly Jewish historical narrative over the site’s layered heritage. A takeover has not yet been formally carried out, but local residents and heritage experts expect further pressure.

Escalating settler violence in the West Bank has intensified as far‑right figures within Israel’s governing coalition work to solidify territorial gains ahead of upcoming elections. Newly established farm outposts such as Maoz Tzur are driving rapid de facto annexation through land seizures, intimidation and attacks that restrict Palestinian movement and access to farmland. A joint report by Kerem Navot and Peace Now details unprecedented expansion enabled by government measures, including retroactive legalisation of outposts and the transfer of settlement‑approval authority to finance minister Bezalel Smotrich. Palestinians report an absence of legal recourse under national security minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir, while international sanctions on settler networks have had limited impact amid U.S. support and EU divisions. Analysts warn that reversing the expanding settler presence will be extremely difficult even under a new Israeli government.

Accounts from families in the West Bank describe children killed by Israeli forces amid loosened rules of engagement and near-total lack of accountability. Human rights groups report that minors posed no threat and dispute Israeli military claims that most were involved in terrorism. UN investigators cite deliberate targeting of Palestinian children as evidence of war crimes. Israeli officials say all civilian-harm allegations are investigated and attribute operations to counterterrorism efforts. Families of victims report no progress on investigations and call for an end to child killings.

Palestinian residents of al-Bustan in East Jerusalem have been demolishing their own homes to avoid high municipal demolition fees as Israeli authorities prepare the area for the Kings Garden theme park. More than 57 homes have been destroyed in two years, with additional demolitions imminent. Residents describe the process as forced and economically coercive, while community leaders argue that long-standing Palestinian homes are being removed to advance a Jewish-centric archaeological and tourism project. Israeli officials claim the houses are illegal and the park will benefit the city, while Palestinians cite systematic permit discrimination and repeated displacement across generations.

Far-right Israeli nationalists marched through Jerusalem’s Old City during Jerusalem Day, chanting violent anti-Arab slogans and clashing with Palestinian residents. National security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir escalated tensions by raising an Israeli flag on the al-Aqsa compound amid his campaign to alter long-standing restrictions on non-Muslim prayer there. Palestinian shops closed in anticipation of unrest, while government-backed marchers confronted residents and counter-protesters. The Jewish-Palestinian group Standing Together deployed volunteers to deter attacks on Palestinians as participation in the march grew more extreme compared with previous years.

A 14-year-old boy and a local resident were shot dead by an Israeli reservist near a school in Mughayyir amid escalating settler violence across the West Bank. Schools and students have increasingly become targets, with attacks destroying facilities, blocking access routes and prompting widespread fear among families. Human rights groups describe a systematic pattern of violence aimed at displacing Palestinians, while international bodies note severe impacts on children’s education. Israeli authorities dispute some accounts, but video evidence contradicts official statements about the circumstances of the shootings.

Residents of Kibbutz Cabri near the Lebanon border describe constant disruption from renewed Hezbollah rocket attacks following Israel’s continued military operations despite an announced ceasefire. Locals express doubts about safety, debate the need for continued strikes, and differ on whether the conflict can be resolved militarily. Regional officials support ongoing action against Hezbollah, while some residents hope for political change in Israel and a reduction in hostilities. Casualties remain limited in Israel but high in Lebanon, and international involvement is discussed but uncertain.

TikTok removed the account of far-right Israeli influencer Roi Star after videos emerged of him harassing Palestinian and leftwing activists in the West Bank, part of a wider rise in ultranationalist content following the Gaza war. Human rights advocates and researchers warned that such videos fuel real-world violence and intimidation. Additional Israeli far-right figures, including politicians, have spread similar messages on social media, while Instagram continues to host related accounts. Critics argue that platform policies allow harmful content to proliferate despite formal rules against threats and hate speech.

An Iranian missile strike on a bomb shelter in Beit Shemesh killed nine people, including four teenagers and multiple members of two families, marking Israel’s deadliest attack since joining US operations against Iran. The blast destroyed a synagogue above the shelter and caused widespread fear in the town. Survivors and local officials described scenes of devastation and highlighted concerns over outdated shelters, though authorities urged continued use of protective structures. The incident underscored the vulnerabilities in Israel’s defense system and the civilian toll of the escalating conflict with Iran.

Widespread Israeli political and public support has emerged for a renewed war on Iran, driven by a growing embrace of militarism and confidence in the country’s military and economic strength. The assassination of Ali Khamenei strengthened backing for the conflict despite escalating Iranian attacks. Analysts highlight a lack of public debate over whether military force offers lasting security, contrasting it with the historical success of peace treaties with regional neighbors. The conflict also intertwines with domestic politics as Benjamin Netanyahu attempts to bolster his standing before upcoming elections. Critics warn that Israel’s long-term reliance on force is unlikely to change unless significant domestic or international pressure is applied.

Air strikes and Iranian attacks triggered broad political and popular support in Israel for renewed conflict with Iran, temporarily halting internal political disputes ahead of upcoming elections. Key opposition leaders backed the government’s actions, while only a few figures, including Ayman Odeh, voiced criticism of a continuous cycle of militarism. Israeli civilians described fear, routine disruption and limited shelter access, particularly among Palestinian citizens. The attacks coincided with the Purim festival, affecting travel and daily life as airspace closures stranded tourists and forced residents into shelters.

Reserve units composed of Israeli settlers have been operating as vigilante-style militias across the occupied West Bank, engaging in violence, property destruction, intimidation and forced displacement of Palestinians. Testimonies from Israeli soldiers and activists describe widespread impunity, unclear chains of command, irregular use of uniforms and weapons, and close alignment between settlers and the Israel Defense Forces following the October 2023 attacks. UN reports and rights groups link the deployment of these units to a sharp rise in displaced Palestinian communities and escalating settler violence, while Israeli authorities acknowledge some misconduct but claim it is limited to isolated incidents.

Palestinian detainees describe severe sexual violence and torture in Israeli civilian and military prisons, including assaults, denial of medical care, and deaths in custody. A new B’Tselem report details systemic abuse, alleging prisons have become torture facilities since October 2023, with political and institutional backing inside Israel. Survivors recount rape, beatings, dog attacks and inhumane living conditions, while families of deceased detainees struggle for accountability. Israeli authorities reject the allegations, but rights groups report widespread violations and a lack of oversight amid halted Red Cross access and indefinite detention of thousands of Palestinians.

Escalating settler violence in the southern Jordan Valley forced the Bedouin community of Ras ‘Ein al ‘Auja to abandon their homes after decades of living on the land. Israeli settlers, often supported or ignored by security forces and backed by far-right ministers, carried out intimidation, property destruction and night raids that made life untenable. Rights groups describe the displacement as part of a coordinated, state-backed effort to expand control in the West Bank. Despite international concern and sanctions on some settlers, forced displacement continues to accelerate with little accountability.

Israel advanced the E1 settlement project by posting a tender for 3,401 homes in a strategic area of the West Bank, a move that would sever Palestinian territorial continuity and undermine prospects for a two-state solution. The plan, backed by senior Israeli officials including Benjamin Netanyahu and Bezalel Smotrich, has drawn international condemnation as a violation of international law. Advocacy groups warn that accelerated procedures could enable construction to begin within a year. The approval comes amid broader settlement expansion, increased military deployment, rising violence against Palestinians, and a 2024 International Court of Justice ruling declaring Israel’s occupation unlawful.

Volunteers in Ras Ein al-Auja in the Jordan Valley position themselves between Palestinian residents and Israeli settler youths who drive livestock into the village to pressure families to leave. Settler harassment has intensified since the Gaza war, supported by local security coordinators and reinforced by wider government policies. Palestinian villagers describe escalating deprivation of land and water access, relying increasingly on Israeli and international volunteers who aim to deter attacks and document abuses. Recent assaults on volunteers highlight settlers’ efforts to remove obstacles to land seizure. Volunteers remain committed to helping families stay on their land despite rising risks.

Eviction notices delivered to farmers in Atouf signal the start of a new Israeli barrier that will cut through fertile Palestinian farmland in the northern Jordan valley. The planned 300‑mile “Crimson Thread” barrier, justified by Israel as a security measure, is viewed by Palestinian residents and human rights advocates as a strategy for land seizure and expanding settlements. Appeals against the confiscations are unlikely to succeed, and dozens of families risk losing access to their land and water. Israeli officials frame the project as strengthening border security, while critics argue the barrier exploits a single security incident to justify large‑scale appropriation of agricultural territory and further isolate Palestinian communities.

Celebrations erupted in Tel Aviv’s hostages square after Israel and Hamas reached an agreement to release the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Families expressed relief tempered with caution, recalling collapsed past agreements. Many protesters praised US involvement and Donald Trump’s role while criticizing Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite ongoing Israeli strikes in Gaza and unresolved elements of the broader ceasefire plan, the focus for most attendees was the anticipated return of the hostages, marking an emotional turning point after two years of protest.

Survivors of the Holit kibbutz massacre grapple with whether to return home after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack that killed 15 residents and destroyed much of the community. Some see returning as an act of resilience, while others struggle with trauma and fear amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza. The government has approved resettlement beginning next July, and reconstruction efforts, including a new kindergarten, have begun. Residents' views diverge on the war’s justification, and the community continues to confront grief, memorialization and the challenge of rebuilding their lives at the edge of the Gaza Strip.

Gal Gilboa-Dalal describes two years of anguish since his brother Guy was kidnapped during the 7 October Hamas attack on the Nova festival. With most hostages either released or killed, Guy is among a small group believed still alive in Gaza. The family’s ordeal has been compounded by security failures surrounding the festival, ongoing military operations that threaten remaining hostages, and political disagreements over how to secure their release. Gal struggles between fear that military pressure endangers Guy and concern that without it Hamas will not negotiate. Hope is tempered after previous failed deals, despite recent indications of progress. He channels his grief into advocacy, drawing strength from a song meaningful to both brothers and holding on to the possibility of reunion.

Israeli police released settler Yinon Levi to house arrest after he was accused of killing Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen during a confrontation in Umm al-Khair. Hathaleen’s family continues to seek the return of his body, which police are withholding pending strict conditions. Israeli forces dispersed mourners and arrested residents as further settler violence occurred in Silwad, where a Palestinian man died in a fire. Rights advocates and foreign governments condemned the killing amid rising settler attacks and continued expansion of Israeli settlements under the current government.