On May 15, 2026, Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian family living in a tent camp near Jericho in the occupied West Bank, according to reports from the field. Muhammad Gawanmeh, a 58-year-old father of six, said he recognized the black pickup truck and ATV carrying settlers who had previously threatened him.
Gawanmeh and his family fled their home in the village of Khirbet al-Mufaqara in January 2026 after repeated settler violence, including stone-throwing and arson. They have been living in a makeshift tent camp with other displaced families, relying on aid from the United Nations and local charities.
The attack occurred around 10 p.m. local time, when the settlers threw stones and fired shots into the air, causing panic among the residents. No injuries were reported, but the family's tent was damaged. The Israeli military said it was investigating the incident, but no arrests have been made.
This is part of a broader pattern of settler violence in the West Bank, which has increased since the start of 2026. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, there have been over 200 attacks by settlers against Palestinians in the first four months of 2026, displacing hundreds of people.
