Settlers reportedly raid Bedouin hamlets in West Bank; no arrests made

Israeli settlers attacked a Bedouin hamlet outside Ramallah as soldiers stood by, Palestinian media and Haaretz report.

The incident began when a settler from a nearby outpost began grazing his sheep in between the homes of residents of the Bedouin hamlet adjacent to the village of Rammun, reports say. The settler then tried to bring his sheep into the Bedouin hamlet’s sheep pen, but was blocked by locals who feared he was trying to steal their livestock.

Several more settlers then reportedly arrived at the scene and a clash broke out. IDF forces arrived at the scene and stood by for an extended period before employing riot dispersal measures. However, those measures were targeted at the Palestinians and not the settlers, Haaretz says, citing witness testimony.

מתנחל רועה צאן בין בתי בדואים בפאתי הכפר רמון

צילום: @justherds pic.twitter.com/FYFbn7VY9U

— הארץ חדשות (@haaretznewsvid) February 17, 2026

Three Palestinians were lightly wounded as a result of the clash, the Palestinian Authority’s official Wafa news site says, adding that the Bedouin residents also accused the settlers of stealing some of their belongings.

No arrests were made. The IDF does not respond to requests for comment.

Such incidents of settler harassment have been taking place on a near-daily basis across the West Bank. The targets are frequently Bedouin hamlets in Area C of the territory, which is under full Israeli control.

Hundreds of Bedouin Palestinians, including some from the hamlet outside Rammun, have decided to flee to other parts of the West Bank.

Earlier Tuesday, settlers from the Giborei David outpost reportedly raided another Bedouin hamlet outside the village of Duma in the central West Bank.

היום בדומא:
מתנחלים מהמאחז הבלתי חוקי ״גיבורי דוד״ תקפו פעילי שלום ופלסטינים מהקהילה הבדואית.
המתנחלים ריססו את אחד הפעילים בגז פלפל, שברו חלק מהקיר ומהגג של הבית, ותקפו פיזית את הפעילים.

התקשרנו למשטרה ולצבא, שבמשך שעות לא הגיעו למקום. pic.twitter.com/I8VGN4KNhG

— עמית אורפלי Amit Orfali ???????? (@AmitOrfali) February 17, 2026

Footage from Israeli activists trying to protect the hamlet shows the settlers breaking down the wall of one of the makeshift homes.

The activists say that the settlers pepper-sprayed and assaulted them and the local Palestinians.

Giborei David’s residents have allegedly taken part in repeated attacks on nearby Palestinians in recent weeks.

Asked for comment on the latter incident, the IDF says it received a report of a clash between a Palestinian and an Israeli during which the Israeli used pepper spray. Troops arrived at the scene and separated the sides, the army said. There were no arrests made at the incident.