Key facts
- Israeli settlers have established illegal outposts on Palestinian farmland in Turmus Ayya, West Bank.
- Many residents of Turmus Ayya are US citizens who experience intimidation and violence from settlers.
- US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has expressed support for Jewish claims on West Bank land.
- Nine Palestinian Americans have been killed in the West Bank by settlers or the Israeli military since 2022.
- The US State Department condemns violence and states US citizens have access to consular services.
Israeli settlers have intensified their attacks on Palestinian villages in the West Bank, including Turmus Ayya, where a significant portion of the residents are US citizens. These settlers, often supported by elements within the Israeli government and evangelical Christian groups, are establishing illegal outposts and engaging in intimidation, property destruction, and violence against Palestinian landowners. Residents, many of whom have strong ties to the United States, feel abandoned and unprotected by the US government, despite their citizenship. They report that while US consular services are available, the US has often been unable to prevent or mitigate the violence. The situation has created a climate of fear, forcing residents to take measures for their own protection and questioning their connection to the US when they feel their safety is compromised. The violence predates the recent escalation of the Israel-Gaza conflict but has worsened in the past year.