West Bank residents defy displacement campaign after settler arson in at-Tuwani
Following a July 18 attack that destroyed key infrastructure and caused a miscarriage, Palestinian residents in at-Tuwani have rejected calls to leave, citing a broader pattern of state-sanctioned displacement in the occupied West Bank.
Residents of at-Tuwani in the Masafer Yatta area of the occupied West Bank have refused to evacuate their homes following a violent settler attack on July 18, 2026. The incident, which involved masked individuals burning a factory, a mosque, and several residences, is being framed by local officials and human rights observers as part of a coordinated campaign to displace Palestinian communities from the South Hebron Hills.
Khadera Ima, a 72-year-old resident, witnessed the attack from her roof as approximately 30 to 40 settlers moved through the village. According to her account, the attackers threw petrol and rocks at her home and sprayed graffiti, including a Star of David on the mosque and the Hebrew word for “revenge” on a residence. The violence lasted roughly 10 minutes before locals managed to push the attackers out. During the incident, Ima’s daughter-in-law, who was two months pregnant, miscarried after settlers were seen throwing petrol near her window.
Sami Huraini, a member of the village council and field researcher, described the attack as a significant escalation within a wider strategy involving Israeli military raids, land confiscation, and legal pressure. He noted that the mentality of the settlers often overlaps with military personnel, creating a system where state policies and settler violence operate in tandem to restrict Palestinian presence. Huraini highlighted that the near-impossibility of obtaining building permits leaves structures vulnerable to demolition, reinforcing the displacement efforts.
The attack occurred against a backdrop of record-high settler violence. Data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicates an average of six settler attacks per day in the first five months of 2026, resulting in over 1,000 incidents across more than 230 communities. The United Nations has classified the approximately 20 settlements and outposts in the Masafer Yatta area, including the nearby Havat Maon, as illegal under international law.
Despite subsequent incursions on July 20 and July 24, including one escorted by the military, residents have maintained their presence. On July 24, settlers returned to hold a prayer in a privately owned Palestinian garden, an event residents say was facilitated by military presence. With no external protection, the community has resorted to self-defence measures, including installing surveillance cameras and maintaining night watches, while continuing to reject expulsion orders linked to the area’s designation as a military firing zone since the 1980s.
