Palestinians Organize Grassroots Patrols to Counter West Bank Settler Violence

Palestinian residents in the West Bank towns of Sinjil and Masoudiyya have launched grassroots security measures to defend against escalating Israeli settler violence. In Sinjil, Moataz Tawafsha, head of the municipality, organized volunteer patrols using searchlights, vehicle sweeps, and WhatsApp alert systems. Since October 2023, settler attacks in Sinjil have killed two people and displaced more than 120 residents, including Bedouin communities. The town's isolation has increased as the Israeli military closed four of five entrances and erected a metal wall blocking access to 2,000 acres of private land.

In Masoudiyya, 12 families have converted their homes into semi-fortified compounds with iron shutters and fences following incursions from a settler outpost established in May 2026. Residents report facing live fire, crop burning, and drone surveillance. These developments coincide with the Israeli government's approval of new settlements and a connectivity plan designed to link outposts around Nablus and Jenin.

Local officials and residents accuse the Israeli military and police of negligence or complicity. The Israeli Defense Forces maintain that troops deploy to disperse confrontations but assert that the responsibility for civilian actions lies with the Israel Police. In response to this perceived security vacuum, the Sinjil municipality has assumed primary responsibility for the town's protection.