Ongoing story / Israel

Violence and settlement expansion in the West Bank

Overview · reviewed November 5, 2026

Violence in the occupied intensified from 2022 and during the war in Gaza. Israeli military raids, settler attacks on Palestinian communities and Palestinian attacks on Israelis accompanied expanding settlements and growing displacement. Foreign governments imposed restrictions over settler violence, while Israel advanced land and settlement measures that Palestinians and other critics described as steps toward annexation.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Read the timeline

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Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · monthly average of weekly shares (UTC)

Oct 2021: average weekly share 2% (left under 1%, center 2%, right 0%), from 2 of 2 weeksNov 2021: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksDec 2021: average weekly share 1% (left 1%, center 1%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2022: average weekly share under 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2022: average weekly share under 1% (left under 1%, center 0%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2022: average weekly share 5% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2022: average weekly share 6% (left 2%, center 2%, right 2%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2022: average weekly share 12% (left 4%, center 6%, right 2%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2022: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2022: average weekly share 6% (left 2%, center 3%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2022: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 2%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2022: average weekly share 8% (left 3%, center 4%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2022: average weekly share 4% (left 2%, center 1%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2022: average weekly share 2% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2022: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 2%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2023: average weekly share 6% (left 2%, center 3%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2023: average weekly share 10% (left 3%, center 5%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2023: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 2%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2023: average weekly share 4% (left 2%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2023: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2023: average weekly share 5% (left 2%, center 3%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2023: average weekly share 7% (left 2%, center 3%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2023: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2023: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2023: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2023: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2023: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2024: average weekly share 7% (left 2%, center 3%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2024: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2024: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2024: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksMay 2024: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2024: average weekly share 5% (left 2%, center 1%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2024: average weekly share 5% (left 2%, center 2%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2024: average weekly share 8% (left 3%, center 4%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2024: average weekly share 11% (left 4%, center 6%, right 2%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2024: average weekly share 2% (left under 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2024: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2025: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2025: average weekly share 7% (left 1%, center 4%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2025: average weekly share 2% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2025: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 2%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2025: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2025: average weekly share 4% (left 2%, center 2%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2025: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2025: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2025: average weekly share 6% (left 2%, center 5%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2025: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2026: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 2%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2026: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2026: average weekly share 1% (left 0%, center 1%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2026: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2026: average weekly share 4% (left under 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2026: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2026: average weekly share 5% (left 1%, center 3%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2026: average weekly share 6% (left 2%, center 3%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 2 of 2 weeks, so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. Over more than two years each bar is a month: the average of that month's weekly shares, so the shape stays readable. The weekly table below keeps every week. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 10 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (141 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Oct 26, 20260101 of 473under 1%
Oct 19, 202615311258 of 47912%
Oct 12, 20261227443 of 4769%
Oct 5, 20263205 of 4791%
Sep 28, 2026410014 of 4763%
Sep 21, 20263171030 of 4796%
Sep 14, 20261416 of 4801%
Sep 7, 20261520944 of 4809%
Aug 31, 202626412 of 4753%
Aug 24, 20261214 of 4661%
Aug 17, 2026615021 of 4645%
Aug 10, 2026617831 of 5456%
Aug 3, 2026214420 of 5374%
Jul 27, 20262103 of 5611%
Jul 20, 2026216624 of 5624%
Jul 13, 202604812 of 5592%
Jul 6, 20267231141 of 5607%
Jun 1, 202659014 of 1868%
Apr 20, 20260707 of 1574%
Mar 30, 202627110 of 1905%
Mar 16, 20264004 of 1782%
Mar 9, 20262406 of 1664%
Feb 16, 202659014 of 1788%
Feb 9, 20262406 of 1803%
Dec 22, 20251607 of 1395%
Dec 15, 20254217 of 1874%
Nov 24, 2025610016 of 15310%
Nov 17, 2025311014 of 1897%
Nov 10, 2025212014 of 1887%
Oct 20, 202564212 of 1946%
Sep 22, 202537616 of 1898%
Sep 1, 202536110 of 1776%
Aug 18, 202578116 of 1918%
Aug 11, 202559014 of 1818%
Jul 7, 202548012 of 1916%
May 26, 202558114 of 1917%
May 19, 20251719 of 1975%
Apr 7, 202537212 of 1946%
Feb 24, 2025210517 of 1979%
Feb 17, 2025717428 of 19414%
Feb 10, 20252619 of 2144%
Jan 20, 20254307 of 2263%
Jan 6, 202543411 of 2215%
Dec 30, 202429112 of 1956%
Nov 18, 202447213 of 2256%
Nov 4, 20240549 of 2234%
Sep 16, 20241216836 of 20917%
Sep 9, 20241018533 of 23014%
Sep 2, 20241729652 of 21225%
Aug 26, 202416211047 of 20423%
Aug 12, 202479218 of 2178%
Jul 29, 2024811221 of 2289%
Jul 1, 20241116431 of 21315%
Jun 24, 202485215 of 2506%
Jun 17, 202474516 of 2227%
Jun 3, 202454211 of 2285%
May 20, 20243339 of 2264%
Apr 8, 2024914629 of 26411%
Mar 18, 202443310 of 2464%
Mar 11, 2024113216 of 2437%
Feb 19, 202436312 of 2325%
Feb 12, 20242327 of 2423%
Feb 5, 20241304 of 2422%
Jan 29, 20242029857 of 23524%
Jan 22, 202468216 of 2387%
Jan 1, 20242226 of 2323%
Dec 4, 202379319 of 2179%
Nov 20, 20232439 of 2014%
Nov 13, 20230101 of 215under 1%
Nov 6, 20235308 of 2373%
Oct 30, 20230011 of 233under 1%
Oct 16, 202339315 of 2486%
Oct 9, 20234318 of 2373%
Sep 18, 202387419 of 2338%
Aug 28, 202326311 of 2654%
Aug 21, 20233238 of 2433%
Aug 14, 20233429 of 2464%
Aug 7, 20231517 of 2593%
Jul 31, 20233328 of 2543%
Jul 24, 202367316 of 2626%
Jul 17, 20230112 of 2671%
Jul 3, 20231930958 of 24524%
Jun 26, 20232417 of 2793%
Jun 19, 20231220537 of 26314%
Jun 12, 20230224 of 2502%
Jun 5, 20233418 of 2653%
May 29, 20231225 of 2582%
May 22, 202355111 of 2694%
May 1, 202327312 of 2565%
Apr 10, 202369419 of 2547%
Apr 3, 20231410226 of 26010%
Mar 13, 20230314 of 1832%
Mar 6, 2023710219 of 17711%
Feb 27, 2023811221 of 18511%
Feb 20, 20231218535 of 18419%
Feb 13, 20231113 of 1812%
Feb 6, 202329314 of 1858%
Jan 30, 20232406 of 1903%
Jan 23, 20231013528 of 19315%
Jan 16, 20231438 of 1884%
Jan 9, 20230022 of 1981%
Jan 2, 202355414 of 1917%
Dec 26, 20223609 of 1636%
Dec 12, 20223407 of 1874%
Dec 5, 20224217 of 1904%
Nov 28, 20221124 of 1882%
Nov 14, 202227110 of 1865%
Oct 31, 20224004 of 1812%
Oct 24, 202298522 of 18112%
Oct 10, 20224217 of 1864%
Oct 3, 20220314 of 1912%
Sep 26, 202269217 of 1879%
Sep 19, 20223249 of 1845%
Sep 5, 20221218434 of 19218%
Aug 29, 202276114 of 1937%
Aug 15, 20223216 of 1833%
Aug 8, 202219111 of 1946%
Jul 18, 20225409 of 1915%
Jul 4, 20221021637 of 19419%
Jun 27, 202228010 of 1915%
Jun 20, 20224116 of 2043%
May 30, 20222248 of 1844%
May 23, 202294417 of 1959%
May 16, 202258215 of 1908%
May 9, 20221629752 of 19327%
May 2, 2022814224 of 20012%
Apr 25, 20221113 of 2041%
Apr 18, 20224206 of 1853%
Apr 11, 20222035 of 1923%
Apr 4, 20221014933 of 19117%
Mar 28, 2022915630 of 18516%
Mar 21, 20222215 of 1923%
Mar 14, 20220123 of 1832%
Feb 7, 20221012 of 1941%
Jan 17, 20222204 of 1842%
Dec 20, 20212103 of 1932%
Dec 13, 20212305 of 1953%
Dec 6, 20211001 of 206under 1%
Nov 1, 20213115 of 1993%
Oct 25, 20211304 of 1862%
Oct 18, 20210505 of 1913%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Nov 2, 2026 · first reported · Headline from Al-Monitor

    Displaced Palestinians return to damaged Hebron quarter as Israeli troops withdraw

Background

Raids and attacks were already taking lives in late 2021. In December, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian during a raid in Nablus and another man who, the army said, had tried to ram a checkpoint with his car.[9][10] An Israeli man was killed in a shooting near a settlement outpost.[11] Deadly attacks in Hadera, Bnei Brak and Tel Aviv in spring 2022 were followed by intensified Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank.[12][13][14][15] The UN's Middle East said that year was on course to be the deadliest for Palestinians in the territory since UN tracking began in 2005.[1] Palestinian officials reported nine people killed in an Israeli raid on Jenin in January 2023.[16] In July, Israel carried out a two-day operation in Jenin involving airstrikes and ground troops, with deaths, displacement and extensive destruction reported.[17][18]

Read the full background (6 more paragraphs)

The killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh drew several investigations. She was shot while covering an Israeli raid in Jenin in May 2022.[19] The UN human rights office concluded that Israeli forces fired the fatal shot.[20] US officials said fire from Israeli positions likely killed her, while the damaged bullet prevented a definitive forensic conclusion.[21] Israel's military later said there was a high probability that one of its soldiers had killed her unintentionally.[22]

Military operations intensified after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, and Palestinian deaths in the West Bank surged.[3] In January 2024, Israeli forces disguised as women and medics killed three men in a Jenin hospital whom Israel described as militants.[23] Raids across several cities followed in August.[24] After American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was killed following a September protest, Israel's military said its soldiers had likely shot her unintentionally.[25] In February 2025, Israel deployed tanks, and Defence Minister Israel Katz said displaced residents would not be allowed to return home.[26] Human Rights Watch later alleged that forced expulsions from refugee camps amounted to and crimes against humanity.[27]

Settler violence also continued. In February 2023, settlers burned homes and cars after a Palestinian gunman killed two settlers.[2] The United States announced visa restrictions in December 2023 and sanctions in 2024; Britain also sanctioned settlers accused of abuses.[5][6][7] In July 2025, a Palestinian-American visiting relatives was beaten to death by settlers, according to his family and Palestinian officials.[28] In February 2026, Palestinian health officials and a witness said settlers shot dead another Palestinian-American during an attack on a village.[29] In August, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee condemned a settler siege of Palestinian homes as a horrific act of terror.[30] US pressure over settler violence grew in October 2026. After settlers attacked a Washington Post photojournalist and European diplomats, Israel arrested at least 10 suspects.[31][32] Israeli soldiers also detained about 80 Israelis and Americans, including New York congressional candidate Brad Lander, while they were harvesting olives.[33]

Settlement policy developed alongside the violence. In October 2021, Israel gave final approval to about 1,800 settler homes, and the United States said it strongly opposed the expansion.[34][35] Benjamin Netanyahu's incoming government prioritised in late 2022.[36] In 2024, Peace Now reported Israel's largest West Bank land seizure in three decades, and a monitoring group reported plans for thousands of settlement homes.[37][38] Israel announced further settlement expansion in 2025 and approved the E1 project, which Palestinians and rights groups said threatened a viable Palestinian state.[4][39][40] President Donald Trump opposed annexation, and Vice President JD Vance criticised a preliminary parliamentary vote supporting it.[41][42]

In February 2026, Israel approved a land-registration process that Palestinians condemned as de facto annexation.[8] European governments later condemned construction tenders for E1.[43] In September, Britain, Canada and France announced bans on imports from Israeli settlements.[44]

Violence continued through October 2026. Attacks on Palestinian farmers intensified during the olive harvest, and an Israeli court released nine of 10 suspects arrested over two settler attacks to house arrest.[45] Heidi Levine, a Washington Post journalist badly attacked by settlers, said the assault had only strengthened her resolve.[46] On October 23, four days before Israel's election, Israel's military said it had killed two gunmen who fatally shot two Israeli soldiers near Hebron. Israel ordered a closure of the West Bank, and Netanyahu said it was preparing a major military operation.[47] Two Israeli soldiers were killed near Hebron in late October, and the military operation that followed displaced thousands of Palestinians before Israeli forces withdrew from a neighborhood of the city in November.[48][49][50] Settler attacks on Palestinians also surged during the olive harvest.[51]

Supporting stories (51)
  1. UN: 2022 likely deadliest for Palestinians in West Bank
  2. Israeli settlers rampage after deadly Palestinian attack in West Bank
  3. Palestinian death toll in West Bank surges as Israel pursues militants following Hamas rampage
  4. Israel authorizes more Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank
  5. US announces visa bans to Jewish Israeli settlers who attack West Bank Palestinians
  6. Biden sanctions four Israeli settlers who attacked Palestinians in the West Bank
  7. UK sanctions 4 Israeli settlers accused of human rights abuses in West Bank
  8. Israeli move to designate large parts of West Bank as state land condemned as ‘de facto annexation’
  9. Israeli forces kill Palestinian during West Bank operation
  10. Israeli fire kills Palestinian after attempted car ramming
  11. Israeli man killed in West Bank after shooting attack on car
  12. Two Israeli police officers killed in gun attack claimed by Islamic State group
  13. A gunman kills 5 in Israel before being killed by police
  14. Two killed, many injured in Tel Aviv shooting
  15. Palestinian toll mounts as Israel steps up West Bank raids
  16. Palestinians say Israeli troops kill 9 in West Bank raid
  17. Israel launches most intense military operation in West Bank in years; at least 8 Palestinians dead
  18. Israel ends West Bank raid calling it a blow to militants. Palestinians grapple with destruction
  19. Slain Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh laid to rest
  20. UN: Israelis fired shots that killed journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
  21. U.S. says Israeli bullet likely killed reporter
  22. Israeli army: 'High probability' soldier killed reporter
  23. Israeli forces dressed as women and medics kill 3 in West Bank hospital
  24. Israeli army says it has killed 5 more West Bank militants, including a well-known local commander
  25. Israel says its forces likely unintentionally shot and killed an American activist in the West Bank
  26. Israel sends tanks into West Bank and says fleeing Palestinians can't return
  27. Israel’s forced expulsion of Palestinians from West Bank refugee camps amounts to war crimes, HRW alleges
  28. American beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the West Bank
  29. Israeli settlers kill 19-year-old Palestinian-American, officials and witnesses say
  30. Settler siege of Palestinian homes in West Bank a ‘horrific act of terror,’ US ambassador says
  31. Amid US pressure on settler violence, Israel arrests at least 10 suspected of West Bank attacks on journalist, diplomats
  32. Photographer attacked by settlers in the West Bank feels insulted by Netanyahu
  33. Israeli forces detain and then release US congressional candidate at West Bank harvest
  34. Israel gives final OK to 1,800 West Bank settler homes
  35. US says it ‘strongly’ opposes Israel’s settlement expansion plans
  36. Netanyahu Government Vows to Prioritize West Bank Expansion
  37. Israel approves largest West Bank land seizure in three decades, rights group says
  38. Israel government approves plans for nearly 5,300 new homes in West Bank settlements
  39. Israel has approved a settlement project that could divide the West Bank
  40. Israel announces West Bank settlement that rights groups say could imperil Palestinian state
  41. Trump says he won’t allow Israel to annex West Bank
  42. Vance slams Israel's parliament vote on West Bank annexation, calling it an 'insult'
  43. Countries condemn Israel's E1 settlement tender in West Bank
  44. UK bans trade with Israeli settlements in West Bank
  45. Israel frees from custody almost all suspects in two settler attacks, puts them under house arrest
  46. Washington Post journalist says attack by Israeli West Bank settlers has only ‘strengthened’ her resolve
  47. Days before Israeli election, military conducts massive West Bank operation
  48. Two Israeli Soldiers Killed, Three Wounded in Hamas Terror Attack Near Hebron
  49. West Bank: Families forcibly displaced in Hebron
  50. Israeli army withdraws from Hebron after operation displaces thousands of Palestinians
  51. Emboldened Israeli settlers lead a surge of attacks on Palestinians' olive harvest

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 242 recorded updates

October 2026

  1. Israel to close all land crossings with West Bank on election dayHeadline from Al-Monitor · 6 outlets
  2. West Bank: Families forcibly displaced in HebronHeadline from France 24 · 5 outlets
  3. Two Israeli Soldiers Killed, Three Wounded in Hamas Terror Attack Near HebronHeadline from Legal Insurrection · 3 outlets
  4. Washington Post journalist says attack by Israeli West Bank settlers has only ‘strengthened’ her resolveHeadline from KVIA El Paso · 7 outlets
  5. Days before Israeli election, military conducts massive West Bank operationHeadline from MyNorthwest · 47 outlets
  6. Israel frees from custody almost all suspects in two settler attacks, puts them under house arrestHeadline from Al-Monitor · 2 outlets
  7. Emboldened Israeli settlers lead a surge of attacks on Palestinians' olive harvestHeadline from Philadelphia Inquirer · 3 outlets
  8. Israeli forces detain and then release US congressional candidate at West Bank harvestHeadline from KAAL Rochester · 34 outlets
  9. Amid US pressure on settler violence, Israel arrests at least 10 suspected of West Bank attacks on journalist, diplomatsHeadline from Local News 8 · 24 outlets
  10. Photographer attacked by settlers in the West Bank feels insulted by NetanyahuHeadline from WKBN Youngstown · 4 outlets
  11. Israeli settlers attack Palestinians and diplomats in West BankHeadline from Hawaiitribune Herald · 50 outlets
  12. China says Israel should stop its 'forced establishment' of West Bank settlementsHeadline from Al-Monitor · 4 outlets
  13. Settlers set fire to mosque in West Bank as Israeli forces raid villagesHeadline from Al Jazeera · 3 outlets
  14. Huckabee aide suppressed US Embassy reports critical of Israeli government: ReportHeadline from The Hill · 5 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →