How Israel systematically dismantles Palestinian life in occupied West Bank
A B’Tselem report argues that Israeli actions in the West Bank—from demolitions and checkpoints to economic strangulation—form a coordinated strategy to dismantle Palestinian society. The study cites thousands of testimonies and recent incidents to illustrate a broader settler‑colonial project aime…
In the West Bank, Palestinians are facing a cascade of actions that, together, appear to be part of a deliberate strategy to erode their community. A new B’Tselem report, titled The Elimination Project, argues that these acts are not isolated incidents but components of a coordinated plan to make Palestinian life unsustainable.
Recent incidents paint a grim picture
In early September, Israeli forces killed two teenagers during a raid in al‑Mughayyir, east of Ramallah. Days later, in the village of Khirbet al‑Tabban, every home was demolished, leaving around 70 residents—many of them children—without shelter. In Qusra, south of Nablus, settlers have surrounded three families for more than a month, cutting off their water and electricity. These events are just the latest in a series of violent and punitive measures that have become routine across the occupied territory.
B’Tselem’s analysis of a broader strategy
The report draws on nearly 2,000 Palestinian testimonies and identifies five interconnected fronts of the alleged strategy: violence and intimidation, movement restrictions, economic strangulation, social and political destruction, and ethnic cleansing and territorial takeover. It links these tactics to the 2017 “Decisive Plan” drafted by Bezalel Smotrich, now Israel’s finance minister, which offers Palestinians only three options: accept Jewish supremacy, leave, or face violent suppression.
According to B’Tselem, the current far‑right government has intensified these measures since 2022, especially after the war in Gaza began in October 2023. The result is a tightening of daily life for the roughly 3.5 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. By December 2025, Israel had erected at least 925 physical obstacles—roads closed, gates installed, checkpoints established—more than any other period in the last two decades.
Economic and social consequences
The occupation’s control over borders, trade and revenue has crippled the West Bank economy. Unemployment rose to 27.5% at the end of last year, partly due to the freezing of work permits for about 115,000 Palestinians. Families unable to earn a living are more vulnerable to displacement. For example, grape grower Jamil Abu Rayan lost 60% of his harvest after settlers built an illegal outpost on his land, and soldiers barred him from another plot, labeling it state land.
Settler attacks have also surged. Peace Now reports that nearly 20% of the West Bank’s land is now under violent settler control, and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recorded 1,600 attacks last year. Israeli authorities make it virtually impossible for Palestinians to obtain building permits, leading to constant threats of demolition for those who build without official approval.
Suppression of institutions and lethal force
B’Tselem documented raids and closures of charities, trade unions and universities. In May 2026, soldiers ransacked a Nablus association that supports women, children and families, confiscating computers and cash earmarked for orphans. Since October 2023, Israeli forces have killed 1,087 Palestinians in the West Bank, a quarter of whom were children, including 17‑year‑old Jamil Hanani who was shot during an army raid.
The report argues that these acts are not failures of the system but the system functioning as intended. Sanctioning individual settlers or reopening a road would not dismantle the underlying structure that produces violence, dispossession and oppression.
Implications for the future
According to B’Tselem, the West Bank cannot be understood in isolation from Gaza. Both areas represent different manifestations of the same regime project aimed at preventing Palestinians from existing as a people. The report calls for a comprehensive international response to halt the systematic dismantling of Palestinian society.
As the situation evolves, the international community faces a stark choice: continue to allow the incremental erosion of Palestinian rights or intervene decisively to protect a people from systematic displacement and violence.
Why it matters
The report highlights a coordinated effort that threatens the very existence of Palestinian communities, raising urgent questions about human rights, international law, and the future of the region.
Key points
- B’Tselem links recent demolitions, checkpoints and economic restrictions to a broader strategy of elimination.
- The report cites five fronts: violence, movement limits, economic strangulation, social destruction, and ethnic cleansing.
- Israel’s current government has intensified these measures since 2022, especially after the Gaza war.
- Economic collapse, high unemployment and restricted building rights are crippling Palestinian livelihoods.
- The West Bank’s situation is tied to Gaza, forming a unified campaign against Palestinian existence.
Frequently asked questions
What is the B’Tselem report about?
The report argues that Israeli actions in the West Bank form a coordinated strategy to dismantle Palestinian society and establish permanent Israeli sovereignty.
How many Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since October 2023?
According to B’Tselem, 1,087 Palestinians, including 27 children, have been killed in the West Bank since that date.
