Settler Violence Erupts in West Bank After Outpost Evacuation: Homes and Vehicles Torched

Tensions flared across the southern West Bank on Monday after dozens of settlers launched violent raids on two Palestinian villages, Umm al-Butam and Jaba’a, in response to the IDF’s evacuation of the illegal outpost Tzur Misgavbi earlier that morning.

In the first incident, settlers entered Umm al-Butam, near the evacuated outpost in the Etzion Bloc, where they set fire to vehicles and a building and attacked residents, including women. A 66-year-old woman was hospitalized after being beaten in her home. Hours later, another mob of settlers torched three homes, a caravan, and several cars in Jaba’a, south of Bethlehem.

Footage from Umm al-Butam shows smoke rising over the village as settlers watched from nearby hills, while IDF troops moved among the houses. Witnesses accused the security forces of failing to intervene.

“A disaster has happened here – all in front of soldiers and police,” said a relative of the injured woman. “The settlers are breaking, beating, burning – and they are doing nothing.”

Netanyahu: “I Will Handle This Personally”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attacks, calling them “violent riots” carried out by “a handful of extremists.”

“I view the attempt to take the law into their own hands with great seriousness,” he said. “Law enforcement authorities must bring the full force of justice to bear against the rioters. I intend to handle this personally.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed the sentiment, expressing support for the IDF and Border Police deployed to contain the violence:

“There will be no tolerance for anyone who acts with violence,” Katz said. “The government will continue to develop the settlement enterprise while upholding the law, ensuring residents’ security, and maintaining regional stability.”

The IDF, Border Guard, and police have been placed on high alert, amid intelligence indicating that settler groups are planning additional attacks on Palestinian villages overnight.

IDF: “We Condemn All Violence”

An IDF spokesperson confirmed that troops arrived at Umm al-Butam “following reports of vehicles being set on fire and stone-throwing incidents between Israeli citizens and Palestinians.” Two Palestinians were treated for injuries.

In Jaba’a, the village council reported that no residents were injured but said the damage to homes and vehicles was extensive. The IDF said its forces were “searching for those involved” and “working to restore order.”

Outpost Evacuation Sparks Right-Wing Backlash

The Civil Administration confirmed that the Tzur Misgavbi outpost — home to about 25 settler families — was evacuated after “criminal acts and serious incidents of violence that threatened security in the area.”

Since 2023, enforcement against illegal Israeli construction in the West Bank has been under the authority of Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Settlement Administration. The IDF retains the power to evacuate outposts only when they present a clear security risk.

During the evacuation, dozens of settlers clashed with security forces, throwing stones and iron bars. The police reported six arrests, and several Border Guard soldiers were injured, one seriously after being struck in the head.

Far-Right Figures Call to Resist Evacuation

Right-wing politicians and activists sharply criticized the move. MK Limor Son Har-Melech of Otzma Yehudit demanded that the evacuation be halted, while Nachala Movement founder Daniela Weiss urged settlers to rally in protest.

“The public is called upon to urgently come to prevent the destruction of dozens of houses,” Weiss wrote, accusing the government of a “wild attack on the youth of the hills.”

Far-right activist Elisha Yared also joined the call, describing the evacuation as “a psychological prelude to an attack on settlement points.”

Escalating Pattern of Violence

The village of Umm al-Butam, located below a cluster of new outposts established during the war, has faced months of settler harassment, including olive tree destruction and nighttime raids. Residents told Haaretz in October that masked attackers regularly descended from the nearby hills.

Monday’s attacks mark one of the most severe escalations of settler violence in recent months and come amid growing criticism of Israel’s handling of law enforcement in the West Bank.