Israel escalates West Bank attacks amid settler calls for revenge

Israeli political leaders and extremist settler groups have issued public calls to destroy Palestinian villages in the West Bank, including Tell, Iraq Burin and Beit Furik. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged evacuation and demolition of these communities, while Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir demanded land and house loss for each Israeli killed. The rhetoric follows clashes near Nablus that left homes burned, civilians injured and dozens of Palestinians killed.

UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese labelled the Israeli strikes on civilians across the occupied West Bank as “pogroms” and demanded an immediate arms embargo and a halt to trade with Israel. She condemned a broad military operation ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz after an incident near Havat Gilad that killed two Israeli soldiers. Palestinian health authorities report at least 87 Palestinian deaths since the start of 2026, including 21 directly caused by settlers.