Report claims growing expulsions of Palestinians from West Bank’s Area B; IDF denies involvement

The Haaretz newspaper reports that there is a growing pattern of expulsions of Palestinians from their homes by Israel that has extended to Area B of the West Bank, which is supposed to be under civilian control of the Palestinian Authority, and where Israel shouldn’t have authority to carry out such actions.

Several Palestinian families tell the left-wing daily that they have endured vandalism attacks by settlers in addition to physical violence and threats of violence aimed at encouraging them to leave their homes, often while IDF soldiers watch, but don’t intervene.

While such a phenomenon used to be constrained to Area C, which is under Israeli security and civilian control, it has reportedly expanded to Area B as well, where Israel isn’t supposed to have a civilian presence.

Haaretz reports on three instances of Area B expulsions — in Tarqumiyah near Hebron in the southern West Bank, the village of Atara near Ramallah and hamlets in the Jordan Valley where IDF soldiers declared areas closed military zones or allowed settlers to carry out attacks without acting to stop them.

In a statement to Haaretz, the IDF denies taking part in a policy of expulsion and says illicit actions by settlers are investigated when they occur.

Harassment, violence and vandalism – once confined to Area C of the West Bank – are now driving Palestinians from homes under PA civil control. Multiple cases show soldiers increasingly enabling or even executing the expulsions pic.twitter.com/lyDWXExkUR

— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) December 30, 2025