# Settler attacks in the West Bank are at the highest pace the UN has recorded > OCHA logged 1,835 settler attacks in 2025. The rate through early 2026 puts the year on track to pass 2,000 — and whole communities are leaving. - **Publisher:** VOTVS (Fair coverage for everyone) — https://votvs.com - **Author:** VOTVS - **Published:** 2026-08-17 - **Language:** en - **Topic:** West Bank - **Canonical URL:** https://votvs.com/en/articles/west-bank-record-settler-violence - **Tags:** west bank, palestine, displacement - **Facts last verified:** 17 August 2026 --- The West Bank rarely leads a bulletin. What is happening there is measurable, recorded by the United Nations, and running at the fastest pace since the UN began counting. ## What the record shows OCHA, which logs incidents in the occupied Palestinian territory, recorded **1,835 attacks involving Israeli settlers during 2025**. Through the first four months of 2026 the rate was **roughly 190 attacks a month**. On 29 July 2026, UN News reported that this trajectory puts 2026 **on course to exceed 2,000 attacks** by the end of the year. **Figure (BarSet):** Settler attacks recorded in the West Bank — 2025 is a recorded total. 2026 is the trajectory implied by roughly 190 attacks a month across the first four months — shown striped because it is a projection, not a count. The UN human rights office, OHCHR, reported that as of 20 July 2026, **18 Palestinians had died in incidents involving settlers** — **12 killed by settlers**, **three by Israeli forces**, and **three where responsibility was disputed**. In the days around 25 July, OCHA reported a further **eight Palestinians killed, including one child**, and **two Israeli military personnel killed**. ## The number that matters most Casualty counts are what get reported. The figure that shows what is actually happening is this one: In the first four months of 2026, OHCHR reported that **nearly 700 Palestinians across nine communities were displaced** as a result of settler attacks. Not individuals moving. Communities emptying. A community does not usually leave because of one attack. It leaves after the water tank is punctured, the olive harvest is stopped, the flock is driven off, and the road to the clinic becomes a risk. Each of those is small enough to fall below the threshold of international news. Together they end a village. ## Who said what We are quoting bodies, not adjectives. OHCHR spokesperson **Ravina Shamdasani** said the office was "alarmed by the Israeli Government's announcement to further increase the number of settlements and outposts." **Ramiz Alakbarov**, UN Deputy Special Coordinator, speaking from Jerusalem, called the situation "deeply alarming" and said "there is no military or violent solution to this conflict." Those are the UN's characterisations, reported as such. The counts above are what the record contains. ## Sources - UN warns West Bank settler violence hits 'all-time high' as calls grow to end occupation — UN News, 29 July 2026. https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/07/1168045 - UN reports pace of settler violence highest on record — OCHA / UN Question of Palestine. https://www.un.org/unispal/document/ocha-un-reports-pace-of-settler-violence-highest-on-record/ - oPt: Humanitarian Situation Report, 23 July 2026 — OCHA, 23 July 2026. https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/opt-humanitarian-situation-report-23-july-2026 - Mapping Israeli settler violence in the West Bank — Al Jazeera, 27 July 2026. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/27/mapping-israeli-settler-violence-in-the-west-bank --- Published by VOTVS. Free to quote with attribution and a link to https://votvs.com/en/articles/west-bank-record-settler-violence.