Repeated attacks by Isreali soldiers & settlers on Burqa

Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Burqa near Nablus almost daily, especially after returning to the illegal Homesh outpost.

The Homesh outpost, built on Burqa's land, was evacuated in 2005 as part of Israel’s "disengagement plan." Recently, settlers built a religious school at Homesh after the Israeli army lifted a ban on returning to the site.

Settler Violence Escalation since 2023:

Attacks often involve settlers throwing stones, burning property, or damaging homes. Only major attacks, like destruction of a livestock barrack and cemetery damage, draw media attention.

Legal and International Reaction:

Despite multiple Israeli court rulings in favor of Burqa residents reclaiming their land, the army has denied them access.

The US and EU criticized Israel’s decision to allow settlers back to Homesh, calling it harmful to peace efforts.

In 2026:

On April 6, 2026, Israeli forces carried out a series of coordinated home raids and search operations across the West Bank. A young Palestinian man was arrested from his home in Burqa (Nablus region) during the sweep.

On May 12–18, 2026, during a heavy wave of settler-driven violence in the Ramallah governorate, Israeli settlers targeted Burqa's agricultural infrastructure. Extremists set fire to cultivated Palestinian farmlands, destroying vital olive trees and burning across approximately 10 dunums (1 hectare) of land, exacerbated by strong winds.

On June 14, 2026, Israeli settlers attempted to set fire to a local village mosque while dozens of worshippers were inside attending evening religious services.

On June 23, 2026, a gang of settlers infiltrated the eastern Ramallah village in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The attackers smashed and vandalized vehicles belonging to local Palestinian residents before fleeing the scene.

On June 26, 2026, an Israeli settler attack occurred in the Palestinian village of Burqa, located east of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

A group of Israeli settlers entered the village and set fire to agricultural land in the southeastern area, destroying roughly 1 hectare (around 2.5 acres) of Palestinian olive groves.

While the attack took place, the Israeli military heavily deployed forces around Burqa, closing the village's main entrance and several secondary roads, which severely restricted the movement of the local residents.

Confrontations broke out between the Palestinian villagers and the settlers. Israeli forces detained several Palestinian youths during the unrest, which extended close to local homes. No immediate injuries were reported. This incident follows a pattern of escalating tension in the village; just days earlier,

Broader Context:

Settler violence has surged in the West Bank, with incidents like the February 2023 attack on Hawara, where settlers torched homes, cars, and killed one Palestinian. Israeli policies, led by far-right ministers, have facilitated settlement expansion and targeted Palestinian communities. This incicents are escalated since October 7, 2023.

The residents of Burqa continue to face daily violence and displacement as settlers expand their presence in the West Bank.