404 attacks in six months: an unprecedented escalation in settler violence in the West Bank.

The Israeli security establishment is monitoring a dangerous escalation in settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, amid growing fears of a loss of control, Haaretz reported Monday.

Data compiled by the Israeli organization shows that the first half of 2025 witnessed an unprecedented rise in violent attacks and hate crimes committed by settlers against Palestinians, with 404 incidents recorded from January to June, compared to 286 in the same period in 2024 and 332 in the second half of last year.

According to the newspaper, the attacks are not limited to targeting Palestinians, but also include settler attacks on Israeli security forces. Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, 100 attacks by settlers against soldiers and security personnel have been recorded, including 33 incidents that occurred in the first half of this year.

These figures come in light of high-profile events that received media coverage, such as violent demonstrations outside Israeli army bases, the burning of a security facility in late June, and the attack on a battalion commander near Kfar Malik.

The severity of these phenomena has led to high-level discussions within the army and the Shin Bet, led by Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, amidst a realization that settlers in illegal outposts, particularly agricultural ones, have become increasingly bold in challenging the state and even attacking its soldiers.

An operations officer in the West Bank noted that he had personally been assaulted by settlers while performing his duties, warning that turning a blind eye to the expansion of agricultural settlement outposts, which have quadrupled since October, has contributed to this security deterioration.

Statistics indicate that the number of attacks perpetrated by settlers against Palestinians or Israeli occupation forces since the beginning of the war has reached approximately 1,350 cases, including approximately 900 classified as Jewish terrorism, 160 of which were pre-planned.

During this period, approximately 320 Palestinians were injured as a result of settler attacks, including 120 this year alone. The number of Palestinian martyrs has reached approximately 970, killed by Israeli occupation forces and settler gangs.

Data from the Israeli security establishment shows that most settler attacks on security forces occurred in agricultural outposts built on private Palestinian land, with direct political support from prominent ministers such as Knesset Speaker Keftel Smotrich and Orit Struck.

While the number of these outposts was approximately 30 before the outbreak of the war, it had risen to approximately 120 by last month, making them hotbeds of chaos and attacks on both Palestinians and occupation soldiers.

In the face of this escalation, the Israeli security establishment warns of the possibility of losing control of the situation if decisive measures are not taken to deter settlers and prevent the expansion of illegal outposts. This comes at a time of heightened tension on the ground and increasing security challenges as the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip continues.