A community-based report on the dynamics of settler colonialism in Al-Khalil / Hebron:

Israeli settler violence in Hebron and across the West Bank continues to escalate as part of a broader colonial strategy of land control, population displacement, and systemic repression. This violence is not random or isolated but deeply embedded within the structural framework of Israel’s occupation. It is facilitated by Israeli military protection, legal impunity, and political support. Palestinians are subjected to harsh military law, while Israeli settlers benefit from civil legal protections, reinforcing a system of legal dualism and apartheid. Government policies further legitimize illegal settler outposts and arm settler militias, giving rise to increasing acts of aggression. In the H2 area of Hebron, over 700 settlers live within a militarized zone surrounded by approximately 34,000 Palestinians, with daily life shaped by checkpoints, closed streets, and movement restrictions designed to fragment and dominate the Palestinian population. Similarly, in Masafer Yatta and the South Hebron Hills, settler violence is closely tied to the expansion of illegal outposts and the implementation of forced evictions, home demolitions, and school raids. The forms of violence vary and include physical assaults on farmers, children, shepherds, and activists,as seen recently in Umm al-Khair, where settlers attacked villagers defending their land, resulting in the killing of a resident, injury to others, arrest of more than 15 Palestinians, and expulsion of international supporters, while the settler responsible was briefly detained and quickly released. Property destruction such as arson, home vandalism, livestock theft, and the uprooting of olive trees is widespread, deeply impacting the economic survival and cultural continuity of Palestinian communities. Psychological violence,including intimidation campaigns, armed settler patrols, and harassment of schoolchildren,adds another layer of trauma, particularly for vulnerable populations. Israeli forces often enable these attacks, either by escorting settlers during assaults or by arresting Palestinian victims instead of perpetrators. Over 90% of Palestinian complaints against settler violence are closed without prosecution, reinforcing a culture of impunity and fear. Despite this, Palestinian communities continue to resist through daily acts of resilience,maintaining their presence, farming their lands, and attending schools under threat. Women and youth often lead these efforts, supported by local and international activists who provide protective presence and document violations. Settler violence is not a marginal phenomenon; it is a deliberate and escalating tool of displacement and domination, serving the broader goals of Israel’s settler-colonial project in the occupied territories.