The West Bank
Last updated: June 18, 2024
The West Bank has received less attention in media and public discourse. Israel has long failed to enforce the law on its Jewish settlers. For example, out of more than 1,600 cases of settler violence between 2005 and 2023, only 3% ended in a conviction.1 The situation there has deteriorated rapidly since the beginning of the war. At least 18 herding/Bedouin Palestinian settlements there have been abandoned after attacks by Israeli Jewish settlers (968 recorded since October 7).2 About 4,000 Palestinians have been displaced in the West Bank in 2023,3 and 2,155 have been displaced since October 7 because of the destruction of their homes.4 Jewish settlers have killed several Palestinians, and have wounded, terrorized and abused others.5 Settlers conducted periodic larger rampages against Palestinian villages as well.6 When a 72 year old Jewish Israeli media photographer was caught by these settlers during such a pogrom they beat him up, stole his belongings and burned some of them, and broke his elbow and a finger. The photographer stated that IDF soldiers accompanied the settlers and refrained from helping him despite his pleas.7 Many of the settlers recruited for wartime territorial defense units now operate in uniform with IDF backing, and attack and abuse Palestinians in this context.8 In late May the IDF announced it would provide rifles to settlers who are not part of the territorial defense units.9
A total of 521 Palestinians have been killed between October 7 and the time of writing.4 Half the fatalities in the West Bank since the beginning of 2023 (four times higher than in 2022) were reported in operations that did not involve armed clashes. The deputy mayor of Jerusalem stated that Israeli police in Jerusalem used live ammunition and shot-to-kill Palestinian rioters, killing five in early-mid October.10 Since October 7, 5,200 Palestinians have been injured in the West Bank.4 A Wall Street Journal investigative report found that after Oct. 7 Israeli settlers have rapidly built both illegal roads and settlements in the West Bank. The Israeli government refused to review the evidence the newspaper supplied.11 In late March the IDF was still blocking the entrances to West Bank villages, forcing residents to make long detours to enter or leave.12 As of the same time, Israel has prevented Palestinians from the West Bank from entering Israel for work, resulting in a loss of their income and a deteriorating economic condition.13 In some cases, Israel has also prevented Palestinians from working their agricultural lands for many months.14
In the first three months of 2024, Israel declared a record amount of land in the West Bank (almost 11,000 dunam, equal to 2,743 acres) as state-owned,15 including the single largest land seizure since at least 1993.16 A New York Times investigative report revealed a document in which the most senior general in command of the West Bank admitted in March that there was a sharp increase in illegal Jewish settlement building, and that in parallel that was de facto no regulation on this illegal building. Both sharply contrasted with Palestinian building, which was heavily regulated.17 In May, Israel’s Minister of Defense cancelled a law that was originally part of the 2005 disengagement plan and that prohibited settlements in four locations.18
Evidence for the killing of Palestinians
Several videos depict the killing of unarmed and unthreatening Palestinians.19 When an Israeli police officer shot and killed a 12 year old boy who launched a firework, Israel’s National Security minister commended him and said he should receive a medal.20 Israeli troops disguised as medical workers and Muslim women have entered a hospital in the West Bank and killed three unarmed militants there in their beds as they slept, including one who was paralyzed for three months.21 In a different case, an IDF soldier killed a Palestinian who had converted to Judaism after finding a knife in his belongings. Two videos reveal that the man was shot as his hands were raised.22 Two Palestinian herders were killed by settlers when IDF soldiers were present but did not get involved.23
Abuse, humiliation and detainment of Palestinians
Multiple videos present Israeli troops abusing and humiliating Palestinians,24 hitting or firing at them,25 parading them half-naked in the streets,26 destroying their property27 or public infrastructure,28 blocking roads,29 defacing Palestinian symbols,30 and calling for another Nakba.31 One soldier shared an image in which he claimed to have stolen a bag full of money notes.32 Another shows a soldier celebrating his birthday(?) with balloons while a handcuffed and blindfolded Palestinian is lying on the ground behind him.33 One video showed Israeli forces kidnap or detain a Palestinian, dressed him in uniform, cuffed his hands and feet, and apparently used him as a human shield.34 As in Gaza, here too there are video clips humiliating and de-humanizing Palestinians,35 describing them as Amalek,36 as well as images of soldiers posing with lingerie inside Palestinian houses they raid.37 There are several video clips of settler youths confronting and attacking Palestinians,38 as well as settlers dressed up as soldiers who detain Palestinians, including on their own lands.39 Yet other videos show settlers stealing Palestinian property,40 or soldiers who do not intervene when settlers harm Palestinian civilians and their property.41 A deputy mayor of the large Israeli city of Be’er Sheva uploaded content of his own reserve military service, complete with blindfolded and handcuffed Palestinians and revenge content.42
More Palestinians, including children,43 are being arrested in the West Bank. In the first month of fighting, over 2,200 Palestinians were arrested. Over 2,000 Palestinians were held in administrative detention, without charge or trial. These detained Palestinians have been subjected to torture and degrading treatment, according to Amnesty International.44 Until late May, almost 5,000 people were arrested in the West Bank (the number does not include people arrested and released before they were brought in front of a judge).45 At that moment, Israel held under arrest or detention (i.e. before their conviction) 7,016 people, of which 4,299 (over 60%) were held without a trial or an indictment (the numbers do not include Gazans).46
Many descriptions of released detainees refer to constant abuse by their prison staff.47 One said that daily, since Oct. 7 their guards required them to crawl while draped in an Israeli flag and kiss the Israeli flag, beating them if they refuse to do so. Food was thrown to the floor and stepped on.48 Another prisoner from Betlehem narrated at length the violence, abuse and degrading humiliation that he suffered while in Israeli prison for three months as part of his “administrative detention”, a status that was sufficient to hold him without charges or evidence.49 Online social media content includes more evidence.50 A senior Palestinian politician, the Speaker of the Legislative Council, was arrested in October. When he was released in June, he recounted some of his experiences – including a prisoner that was allegedly killed because he asked whether there was a ceasefire in Gaza, and another who was killed because he asked the Israeli prison staff not to insult his parents.51