The Palestinian population is experiencing an escalation in concerns as a result of the increasing number of attacks perpetrated by Israeli settlers.

The occupied West Bank has witnessed a significant escalation in acts of violence perpetrated by extreme Israeli settlers against Palestinian people this year. The United Nations reports that the frequency of such occurrences has exceeded 100 per month. The report cautions that over 400 individuals have been displaced from their territories since the commencement of the year 2022.

Vehicles severely damaged and residential and commercial structures engulfed in flames. In the occupied West Bank, there has been a surge in incidents of settler violence, which have reached unprecedented levels in recent months.

Certain incidents have resulted in fatalities.

The village of Burqa, located amidst olive trees in the undulating hills north-east of Ramallah, is currently adorned with commemorative posters honoring the late Qusai Maatan, a 19-year-old individual. These posters prominently feature Qusai Maatan seated upon his white Arabian horse, serving as a poignant symbol of remembrance.

The individual exhibited a profound inclination towards empathy and compassion. According to Abdul Moneim Maatan, the grandfather of the individual in question, he consistently had a friendly demeanor and demonstrated genuine concern for his well-being, as seen by his insightful inquiries. Maatan's voice exhibited signs of emotional strain as he recounted these experiences. The individual's nonattendance results in a significant absence.

According to the account provided by his family, Qusai was reportedly killed by an armed settler during an incident that occurred in the evening when he was engaged in a recreational outing with friends at the outskirts of the hamlet. The local residents provide an account of an encounter that rapidly escalated with radical Israeli individuals residing in close proximity. Projectiles were hurled and, at a minimum, one colonist discharged a firearm. In a remarkable expression of disapproval, the United States, Israel's most significant supporter, characterized the events that transpired in this context as "Jewish terrorism."

Israeli security forces have apprehended two Israeli settlers and a minimum of five Palestinians in connection with an incident, the details of which are currently under investigation.

According to an anonymous teenage relative of Qusai, there has been an increase in incidents of settler attacks.

The speaker asserts that the identity of the next Qusai remains unknown. There is a lack of protection available to us. In the event of any potential future conflicts or attacks, it is imperative to acknowledge that our government may face legal limitations in terms of its ability to respond.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) exercises governance in major Palestinian urban centers, whilst Israel maintains predominant authority over 60% of the West Bank, referred to as Area C. In this region, Israel assumes responsibility for law enforcement, urban planning, and construction activities. Approximately 370,000 individuals of Palestinian descent are residing in Area C, encompassing Burqa, with a population of approximately 500,000 Israeli residents. The recently formed Israeli government, characterized as the most right-wing and nationalist administration thus far, has publicly announced its objective of increasing the settlement population to one million, thereby doubling its current size.

The majority of the global community considers settlements to be in violation of international law, despite Israel's dissenting viewpoint.

According to the settlement watchdog organization Peace Now, the year 2023 has witnessed an unprecedented surge in settlement construction in the West Bank, along with a notable increase in the legitimization of outposts. Outposts are frequently established with tacit approval from Israeli authorities, albeit without formal authorization.

According to Peace Now, the Israeli government, which comprises individuals with a history of advocating for settlements in influential cabinet positions, has just undertaken the process of legalizing or initiating the legalization of 15 settler outposts that were previously deemed unlawful under Israeli legislation.

A signpost resembling an official marker directs me towards the settlement outpost known as Oz Zion, situated among an olive grove atop a hill overlooking the village of Burqa. The construction took place on property that was privately held and officially registered under the ownership of Palestinians residing in the community. The premises consist of a series of white, preconstructed structures, a basic recreational space designated for the young offspring of six households now residing in this vicinity, as well as an enclosure housing a flock of sheep.

Our vision is the complete settlement of all land in Israel by Jewish inhabitants. The assertion of this statement is that the right in question is fundamental and inherent to all individuals. According to Yehuda Lieber, a 26-year-old individual with two children, the basis for our entitlement is within the Bible. The individual finds solace in the existence of like-minded individuals within the government, fostering a sense of encouragement. They hold the belief that, in due course, Israel will grant retrospective authorization to their outpost.

The individual asserts that there exists an anticipation from the government, which was elected via the support of right-wing voters, to address the issue of land settlement, facilitate the expansion of settlements, and refrain from causing harm to them.

According to his account, the establishment of a succession of fresh outposts has been undertaken with the intention of impeding the realization of Palestinian statehood. The establishment of an autonomous Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem serving as its capital, has been a longstanding objective of the internationally supported two-state solution, which aims to resolve the enduring Israel-Palestinian conflict.

According to Mr. Lieber, the objective of our efforts, both at this location and elsewhere, is to impede the establishment of the Palestinian state. He asserts that this state is currently being developed without consultation or consent from relevant parties.

According to anti-occupation organisations, there has been a notable increase in settler attacks on Palestinians and their property, which they attribute to the perceived empowerment of settlers under the current Israeli coalition administration. The observed pattern arises in the context of an increase in tensions in the West Bank during the current year, characterized by frequent Israeli military operations and a series of Palestinian assaults.

This year has witnessed the highest number of casualties among Palestinians and Israelis in nearly two decades. According to data compiled from Palestinian Authority sources, the number of casualties in the area exceeds 180, comprising predominantly combatants but also a significant number of civilian fatalities. On the Israeli side, a total of 32 individuals have lost their lives, with the majority being civilians. Approximately half of these casualties occurred in the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem.

Certain lethal Palestinian militant attacks have resulted in retaliatory violent outbursts perpetrated by settlers, as exemplified by the events in Huwara in February subsequent to the killing of two brothers residing in a nearby settlement, and in Turmus Ayya in June following the unfortunate demise of four settlers outside a petrol station. Both of those incidents resulted in the death of a Palestinian individual. According to a recent statement by the leading Israeli military spokesperson, the increase in incidents of settler attacks, referred to as "nationalist terrorism," is believed to be a contributing factor to the escalation of Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

According to data released by Israel's internal security service, there has been a notable rise of 15% in individual Palestinian attacks targeting both civilians and troops throughout Israel and the Occupied Territories during the initial seven-month period of the current year, in comparison to the corresponding timeframe of the previous year. In the year 2022, the agency recorded a total of 1,317 incidents including the utilization of fire or pipe bombs, shootings, arson, and stabbings. This figure decreased to 1,522 incidents in the subsequent year of 2023.

The Israeli security forces have faced heightened scrutiny due to the escalation of settlement violence. Frequent criticism is directed towards them due to their perceived ineffectiveness in intervening and occasional instances where they appear to endorse acts of harassment.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), there have been more than 700 documented occurrences this year in which acts of aggression by settlers have led to casualties among Palestinians, as well as causing damage to their property. The numerical value is the greatest count since the initiation of data collection for such occurrences in 2006.

To provide an illustrative perspective, it is worth noting that in the year 2021, the data we have recorded indicates an average occurrence of one instance of settler violence every day. According to Andrea De Domenico, the director of the West Bank office of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), there were two instances of settler violence reported in the year 2022. Furthermore, in the year 2023, an average of three episodes of settler violence per day had been recorded.

According to Mr. de Domenico, the Palestinian Bedouin and other herding populations residing in Area C have a heightened level of vulnerability.

According to the interviewee, there is an increasing amount of pressure being exerted on Palestinian populations, compelling them to vacate their territories. In recent times, three settlements have undergone complete removal.

In early August, the surviving families residing in al-Qabun, a pastoral hamlet located in the central region of the West Bank, undertook the process of disassembling their residences and enclosures for livestock in order to relocate to more secure areas. A group including 89 individuals was compelled to relocate due to perceived Israeli demolition warnings and instances of settler intimidation.

In the past, individuals would frequently halt their vehicles in proximity to our residence at the stroke of midnight, thereafter emitting audible signals from their automobile horns or dispatching children to engage in acts of harassment towards us. According to Ammar Abu Alia, the sheep would be frightened and confined, while the water tank would be depleted by the aforementioned individuals.

The individual expresses concern on the future implications of confining over 100 members of his livestock within a temporary rented land enclosure. The individual inquires, "What course of action shall we undertake?" We will be compelled to engage in a sale. There will be a lack of means to sustain one's livelihood.

Similar to the remainder of her extended family, Nida Abu Alia, who is the sister of Ammar, currently resides in limited living quarters within a village in close proximity to the ancestral land they have inhabited for numerous generations. The individual who has given birth to nine children expresses a sense of resentment at the comparatively insufficient level of consideration given to the challenges faced by her group.

There have been assertions made by individuals that the current designation of this area as Area C is inaccurate. According to her, the region in question is referred to as Palestine. The relocation experienced by our community represents a significant and profound disadvantage. It is vital for individuals to comprehend the current circumstances. If they fail to take action, there will be significant consequences.

Human rights organizations caution that the compelled displacement of Palestinians from their residences on occupied territories may potentially constitute a war crime committed by Israel, provided that it can be substantiated that official measures amount to coercive tactics.

Simultaneously, individuals who have settled in the region and those who align with their cause within the Israeli government are endeavoring to capitalize on the emerging political landscape. A substantial allocation of funds is being proposed to facilitate the expansion of settlements and enhance their infrastructure, thereby solidifying a Jewish presence in the West Bank and inducing transformative changes to the region's physical environment.

The growing frustration and animosity among Palestinians can be attributed to the perceived ineffectiveness of their own leaders in instigating significant changes and the prevailing perception that settlers are able to act without facing consequences.

The continuous advancements appear poised to intensify acrimonious conflicts.