Settler-soldiers blur lines in West Bank attacks, investigation finds
A new report links military uniforms to settler violence, noting that 14 of 63 Palestinians killed since 2023 were shot by armed individuals in uniform.
By Renata Mehta ·
The line between civilian attackers and state security forces in the occupied West Bank has become porous, according to a new investigation. The report details how individuals living as settlers frequently act as military personnel during confrontations with Palestinian residents. This dual role allows violent actors to switch between civilian clothing and military uniforms, often within the same incident. The findings challenge the official distinction between the settler population and the army.
The investigation identified specific cases where this duality played out. In the village of Tal, southwest of Nablus, researchers used facial matching to identify Yitzhak Levi Filant. Known locally as Yaqoub, Filant was a settler from Yitzhar. He was filmed assaulting farmers in civilian clothes. Later, he returned to the same village in a military uniform. He carried a military-issued weapon and issued orders to residents. Filant was added to the US sanctions list in August 2024. The Trump administration removed him from that list in early 2025.
Abbas Melhem, director of the Palestinian Farmers Union, described this shift as a daily reality. He noted that settlers often tell farmers there is no need to call the army because the settler is the army. "He goes to his car, then puts on his military uniform and returns and tells him: 'I am the army!'", Melhem said. He added that the army and settlers serve the same goal planned by the Israeli government.
The report documented lethal consequences of this overlap in Hebron. On March 7, a settler named Nahman encroached on Palestinian land near Susya. He summoned reinforcements. The brothers Shem Tov and Luria Luski arrived in an off-road vehicle. Luria Luski, who has appeared in military uniform in other footage, opened fire. The attack killed Amir Shanaran and severely wounded his cousin. Shanaran’s father recounted that his son was shot while defending him.
Since October 7, 2023, 63 Palestinians have been killed by settlers in the West Bank. Fourteen of those victims were shot by individuals serving in the army or wearing military uniforms. The report also highlighted Bezalel Talia, a soldier who raided homes while running a training camp for settler youth. This coordination is supported by the Regional Defence battalions, known as Hagmar. These units expanded sixfold since 2023. Assaf Surya, the deputy commander in Hebron, stated that most Hagmar members are settlers serving in the reserves.
Mohannad Mustafa, an expert on Israeli affairs, said the force’s mission has shifted toward geographical expansion. He argued that the units were armed and supported financially to serve the colonial settlement project. Gideon Levy, a journalist for Haaretz, noted that settlers have systematically entered the army. He observed that an increasing number of commanders are settlers themselves. This integration allows for a flow of weapons and information between official security and settler groups.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated that at least 120,000 civilian weapon licenses were issued to settlers during the current government’s tenure. Amir Daoud from the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission pointed out that retired security officers often join settler militias. They share intelligence with these groups to use against Palestinians. This militarized network has helped settlers seize about one-fifth of the West Bank. It has also forced the displacement of 118 Palestinian communities under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Accountability for these actions remains low. The human rights organization Yesh Din reported that 93.6 percent of settler criminal cases opened since 2005 were closed without indictments. Itamar Avneri, a founding member of Standing Together, said the government gives settlers a blank cheque to commit crimes and escape punishment. He added that many soldiers participate in attacks because they believe they will not face justice. Melhem noted that the army participated in stealing around 50 tonnes of olives this year. Much of the produce was transported in military vehicles.
