Escalation of West Bank Settler Violence Puts Palestinians at Risk

Abed Wadi received a threatening message with an image of masked men posing with weapons just as he was preparing for a funeral. The message, in both Hebrew and Arabic, read: "To all the rats in the sewers of Qusra village, we are waiting for you and we will not mourn you. The day of revenge is coming." The funeral was for four Palestinians who had been killed by Israeli settlers and soldiers. Despite the threat, Wadi continued with the funeral procession, unaware that his own brother and nephew would be shot dead later that day. The violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has escalated since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began. Israeli settlers, some wearing military uniforms, are entering villages, expelling and killing civilians. The settlers have been taking advantage of the world's attention on Gaza to commit acts of violence. The situation in the West Bank is getting worse, with reports of forced displacement and increasing attacks by settlers. The fear is that armed settlers are blurring the lines with members of the military, posing a greater threat to Palestinians. Wadi acknowledges that the situation in his village and the neighboring villages is getting more aggressive and radical, with no end in sight.