UN Warns of Rising Israeli Settler Violence in West Bank as Palestinian Death Toll Grows

The United Nations human rights office has raised alarm over escalating Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank, warning that attacks on Palestinians and the rapid expansion of Israeli settlements have reached unprecedented levels. The agency called for urgent international action to address the growing violence and halt settlement activity, which it says violates international law.

According to U.N. data, 18 Palestinians have been killed in incidents linked to Israeli settler attacks so far in 2026, surpassing the 17 deaths recorded throughout all of 2025. The Palestinian Authority reports an even higher toll, stating that at least 20 Palestinians have been killed by settlers since the beginning of the year.

The latest violence occurred last Friday near the Palestinian village of Tal, southwest of Nablus, where four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were killed after a group of Israeli settlers, some reportedly armed, entered the area. One of the slain soldiers also served as a security coordinator for a nearby Israeli settlement.

Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said settlers and Israeli security forces have frequently acted together in attacks on Palestinian communities. She said these incidents have included assaults on families, destruction and confiscation of property, and the burning of mosques.

The Israeli government and military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The U.N. said violence and what it described as the ongoing annexation of Palestinian territory have intensified since the International Court of Justice ruled in July 2024 that Israel's occupation and settlement activities in Palestinian territories are illegal under international law. Israel rejected the ruling, calling it biased and fundamentally flawed.

Tensions in the West Bank have surged since the Gaza war began in October 2023. Earlier this month, Israel's security cabinet approved 34 new settlements with funding of 1.3 billion shekels ($434 million). Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the decision as "historic," while the U.N., Palestinians, and most countries continue to view Israeli settlements as illegal and a significant obstacle to achieving a two-state solution. Israel disputes that legal interpretation, citing historical and biblical ties to the territory. Currently, about 700,000 Israeli settlers live alongside roughly 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.