Settlers filmed grazing livestock inside Palestinian village in central West Bank

Sheep seen damaging crop of local farmer in Sinjil, as Palestinian shepherds elsewhere in the territory report coming under attack during settlers’ attempt to steal their herd

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and ToI Staff

Today, 1:19 am

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Israeli settlers were filmed grazing their livestock through the Palestinian village of Sinjil in the central West Bank on Saturday, at the same time as elsewhere in the territory, others were reported to have attacked Palestinian shepherds.

In Sinjil, the livestock were seen damaging the crop of a Palestinian farmer as the settlers looked on.

The tactic is one of many adopted by settlers to harass Palestinians, with the aim of driving them off their lands. Other tactics include the theft of their livestock, arson, and violence against people and property.

Citing Palestinian security sources, the Palestinian Authority’s official WAFA news agency reported that Sinjil residents forced the settlers back out of the village, with no reports of injuries.

Several thousand Palestinians, mainly Bedouin, have fled their homes over the last three years after being unable to withstand near-daily harassment and attacks by settlers, which go almost entirely unchecked by Israeli authorities.

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Dozens of left-wing Israeli activists have begun conducting what they call “protective presence” in some of the most targeted Palestinian villages.

The banality of evil: Settlers graze their sheep inside a Palestinian faqous (a type of cucumber) plot. Sinjil, not far from the Shilo settlement. pic.twitter.com/ACa5vVem9j

— Peace Now (@peacenowisrael) June 20, 2026

Some of the villages that most frequently come under attack are located in the Masafer Yatta region of the West Bank, which was featured in a 2024 documentary about settler violence and Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes in the West Bank that won an Oscar.

On Saturday, WAFA reported that Palestinian shepherds were attacked in the village of Khirbet ad-Daqiqa south of Hebron by settlers who attempted to steal their livestock.

Earlier in the day, Palestinian news outlets reported that settlers had vandalized several vehicles in the village of Kifl Haris, in the western West Bank.

Footage from the scene showed several cars with smashed windows. There were no reports of injuries in the incident.

مصادر محلية: مليشيات المستوطنين تعتدي على مركبات الأهالي بعد تسللها إلى بلدة كفل حارس شمال #سلفيت pic.twitter.com/Xx008msBKe

— المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام (@PalinfoAr) June 19, 2026

Also near Nablus, WAFA reported that settlers from a nearby outpost threw stones at the home of a family in the village of Jalud. According to the outlet, the home has been subjected to repeated attacks due to its proximity to the outpost.

Arrests in the daily acts of violence against Palestinians are rare, and convictions are even less common.

IDF has faced criticism for often standing by and failing to prosecute perpetrators, or even for actively participating in the rampages.

In contrast, the military frequently arrests Palestinians who confront violent settlers with violence of their own.

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