Israeli settlers use drones to monitor and harass West Bank Palestinians

Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank are reportedly using drones to monitor, intimidate, and displace Palestinian communities. According to reports, these drones are used for round-the-clock surveillance of residents inside their homes and to track herders as they graze livestock.

In several instances, drones have been used to guide armed settler raids. In Al-Mughayyir, drones allegedly played a major role in a raid that resulted in the deaths of a boy and a young man. In Mikhmas, a drone was used to track young men searching for stolen livestock, leading to a confrontation where a 19-year-old was killed.

Beyond surveillance, settlers have reportedly equipped drones with speakers to broadcast abuse and have used them to drop tear gas on targeted communities. While settlement councils have been noted to distribute drones for reconnaissance and monitoring, Palestinians remain prohibited from owning drones even for professional use.