A United Nations investigation revealed that Israeli officials were directly involved in settler attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, and that Israeli security forces provided protection for this violence.
The UN report stated that the attacks were facilitated by financial and military support, while judicial and law enforcement institutions created an environment of impunity. According to the report, attacks on Palestinian villages and agricultural lands have increased by 130% since 2023.
The Scale of Attacks Has Grown
The report noted that raids involving masked groups have regularly increased, and that Israeli security forces often acted alongside settlers, forming a shield for the violence.
UN data shows that at least seven Palestinians were killed and 832 injured last year. The violence reportedly continued in 2026 with attacks occurring almost daily.
The commission assessed that the growing role of security forces in settler attacks effectively erased the distinction between settlers and soldiers.
Violations Against Children and Women
The report documented cases of settlers attacking, abducting, and mistreating Palestinian children. On April 19, 2025, a 12-year-old girl and her 3-year-old brother were forcibly abducted with a knife, taken to an olive grove, tied to a tree with plastic ties, and held there until their families intervened.
The commission also reported that settlers used sexual violence to instill fear and harassed Palestinian women.
Israel’s Denial and International Law Debate
Israel denies allegations that soldiers protect settlers, claiming such incidents are isolated, violate military protocol, and are under investigation. However, Israeli and Palestinian human rights organizations note that very few of these investigations result in punishment.
The report also recalled that hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers live alongside millions of Palestinians in territories captured by Israel during the 1967 war. While most countries and the UN’s highest judicial body consider these settlements illegal under international law, Israel disputes this based on historical and religious ties.
In a non-binding opinion issued in July 2024, the International Court of Justice stated that Israel’s presence and settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are illegal and should end as soon as possible.
Gaza File Also Included in the Report
The commission’s report also addressed serious violations committed by Hamas-affiliated forces in the Gaza Strip. Of 249 documented executions and severe physical violence cases in 2024 and 2025, at least 60 involved Hamas-linked forces.
The report described punishment methods such as beating with metal pipes and bone-breaking, applied to those accused of collaborating with Israel or looting aid. In two separate incidents, 11 men were publicly executed.
The commission considered these acts to constitute war crimes and violations of international law.
Commission chair S. Muralidhar stated that the relentless daily attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians are unacceptable and called on the international community to pressure Israel to dismantle settlements and outposts and to stop the violence.
The report also emphasized that despite periodic condemnations and the removal of some unauthorized outposts, Israeli authorities have not taken sustainable steps to halt the attacks.
