Palestinians in northern West Bank fear expanding settlements will drive them from their land

In northern West Bank, Palestinian residents are growing increasingly fearful as Israeli settlers expand their presence, threatening their land and livelihoods. Amin Rahal, a 31-year-old father of three, has stopped working and now guards his family's land against settler incursions. The settler community, newly established in Emek Dotan, has erected barriers and prohibited Rahal and his family from crossing, causing them to lose their chickens and olive trees.

Rahal warns of potential violence, including attacks on their children and houses. Across the West Bank, such incidents have become common, with the UN reporting an average of six cases per day involving settlers in 2026. In the past, the northern West Bank had been relatively safer than other regions, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is reversing previous plans to reinvest abandoned settlement sites.

This has led to the construction of new settlements, further entrenching tensions. In Jenin, a military base has been established in Area A, which should be under Palestinian control, while Areas B and C are subject to Israeli control. This has resulted in the demolition of Palestinian businesses and fields, leaving residents isolated and without access to essential resources.

Rawajbi, a local resident, expresses her fear of being surrounded by settlements, as the army bulldozes roads and conducts menacing checks on residents, treating them as if they were official authorities.