Drone use raises surveillance and security questions in West Bank
Palestinians and activists tell France 24 that drones are increasingly used to monitor communities and disrupt daily life. The report cites government funding for security equipment but provides no independent count of incidents.
Palestinians and activists have reported more frequent drone flights over homes, farmland and livestock in the occupied West Bank. France 24’s reporting describes their use by settlers, regional councils, NGOs and the Israeli army for surveillance, intimidation, monitoring construction and demolitions, and frightening flocks.
A Bedouin farmer identified by the alias Abdel told France 24 that drones followed his family after they left their village in January 2026. He said an outpost was established near their new home and that drones now appear two or three days a week, following family members around their property.
In Burqa, farmer Faris, also identified by an alias, said drones are flown close to sheep to scatter them. He described their presence as almost constant. The report also cites an expert who said regional councils and the NGO Regavim use drones to identify Palestinian construction and prompt demolition action.
The account draws on interviews, videos and social media posts; it does not provide an independent count of drone incidents. A settler organiser posted a photo claiming to have distributed drones to four settlements, while the Israeli government allocated 50 million shekels in 2026 for security equipment and infrastructure for settlements and outposts, according to France 24.
The United Nations considers Israeli settlements and outposts in the West Bank illegal. In March 2026, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights raised concerns about forced transfers and possible international crimes. The supplied report includes no response from the Israeli government or groups accused of using drones.
