Israeli settlers defy sanctions, join in expelling W.Bank Palestinians
5 Min Read
Far-right settlers establish an illegal outpost just meters from Palestinian homes in Mughayyir al-Deir, intensifying forcible displacement.
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Palestinian boys near several unauthorized Israeli outposts on the edge of the Palestinian village of Qaryout in the northern West Bank, Sunday, November 12, 2023 (AP)
Two Israeli settlers recently sanctioned by the UK government have been directly involved in a renewed campaign to forcibly displace Palestinians from the West Bank village of Mughayyir al-Deir, according to a report by The Guardian.
Neria Ben Pazi, leader of the outpost group known as Neria’s Farm, was sanctioned by the UK on Tuesday as part of broader measures condemning settler violence and "Israel’s" continued obstruction of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The same day, Britain suspended its free trade negotiations with "Israel" following inflammatory remarks from Israeli cabinet members about forcibly removing Palestinians from Gaza.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy denounced the “impunity” with which violent settlers operate and called the sanctions a step toward accountability. “The Israeli government has a responsibility to intervene and halt these aggressive actions,” he said.
Zohar Sabah, another settler sanctioned for “threatening, perpetrating, promoting and supporting acts of aggression and violence against Palestinian individuals,” was also seen at the illegal outpost near Mughayyir al-Deir.
'Children are terrified': Settler harassment surges
Ben Pazi was observed spending significant time at the outpost, erected just 100 meters from a Palestinian residence, alongside other settlers. The group has constructed "a makeshift shelter" and livestock enclosure on the site, which has since become a hub of intimidation.
“I haven’t slept since they came, and the children are terrified,” said 58-year-old Ahmad Sulaiman, who lives closest to the encampment. Preparing to leave, he recalled being told by settlers, “This is our home.”
Despite the sanctions, local residents report a surge in settler harassment, which has gone largely and deliberately ignored by Israeli authorities.
While "Israeli" military officials claim they have not authorized the outpost or the forcible displacements, enforcement against such illegal constructions has been minimal. A military spokesperson told The Guardian, “The alleged evacuation was neither conducted by [IDF troops] nor carried out with their approval,” adding that decisions on removal are determined “in accordance with the priorities set by the political echelon.”
The presence of far-right Knesset member Zvi Sukkot at the outpost further illustrates the political cover settlers enjoy. In a televised debate last week, Sukkot declared, “Everyone has got used to the idea that we can kill 100 Gazans in one night during a war and nobody in the world cares.”
Settler violence grows more open, systematic
Yonatan Mizrachi of Peace Now noted that settler actions have grown significantly bolder since October 7, stating, “I don’t remember any others that were established so close. It shows the settlers’ lack of fear, and the understanding that they can do what they like.”
Shai Parnes of B’Tselem echoed this shift, explaining, “They used to hide their faces or attack at night. Now it is much more brutal and in broad daylight. They are really proud about what they’re doing, sometimes even uploading the assaults themselves to social media.”
Sabah, who was indicted by Israeli authorities in September for participating in an assault on a school in Mu’arrajat East, exemplifies the type of individuals spearheading these campaigns.
Historic roots and continuing occupation
The Sulaiman family, now facing forcible displacement once again, was originally forcibly displaced during the 1948 Nakba from the area near present-day Bir al-Sabe'. Their story reflects a broader pattern. According to B’Tselem, nearly 1,200 Palestinians, including 600 children, have been forced out of 20 communities in the occupied West Bank since October 2023.
Although "Israel’s" occupation of the West Bank began in 1967, international law considers all settlements in the area illegal. Even under Israeli law, dozens of "makeshift outposts" remain unauthorized. Yet removals are rare and often delayed indefinitely.
Ben Pazi, who established his farm near Ramallah in 2018, has long been accused of land grabs and violence. Both the US and UK have cited his role in forcibly displacing Palestinians, destroying property, and using livestock to occupy land by grazing over Palestinian agricultural zones, with nothing done on the ground against his aggression.
The US State Department reported in 2024 that “Ben Pazi has expelled Palestinian shepherds from hundreds of acres of land.” Though he was sanctioned by President Biden, US President Donald Trump later reversed the measures.
Despite a 2023 administrative ban on his presence in the West Bank, Ben Pazi was spotted multiple times this week at the Mughayyir al-Deir outpost, including in the company of a man in military-style attire.
Parnes summed up the situation bluntly, saying, “What is happening is not just about a violent threat in this place or that; it’s all part of a well-defended and subsidized policy run by the government.”
