WAFA is in the news as a Palestinian news agency covering intensified West Bank violence, Gaza strikes, and settler clashes. Palestinian News Agency.
Since early March 2026, Israeli settlers have intensified violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank, killing at least six and displacing dozens. The Israeli military has condemned some incidents and opened investigations, but rights groups report near-impunity for settlers. Movement restrictions amid the Israel-Iran war hamper emergency responses, worsening the humanitarian situation.
Since early 2026, Israeli settler violence in the West Bank has escalated sharply, with at least five Palestinians killed in recent days, including two brothers shot in Qaryut and another man in Masafer Yatta. The Israeli military is investigating incidents involving reservist soldiers. Settler attacks have surged amid ongoing regional tensions following strikes on Iran.
A missile, likely Iranian, hit a women's hair salon in Beit Awwa, West Bank, killing three women and injuring 13. The incident marks a rare deadly attack in the area amid ongoing regional conflict, with conflicting reports on the cause of the blast.
On April 11, 2026, Ali Majed Hamadneh, 23, has died after Israeli settlers opened fire during a raid on Deir Jarir village in the West Bank. The attack occurred under Israeli military protection amid a surge in settler violence and government approval of 34 new settlements. The incident has intensified criticism of settlement expansion and settler attacks in the occupied territory.
On April 5, 2026, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City killed four Palestinian policemen, marking the latest breach of the ceasefire established in October 2025. Despite the truce, Israeli strikes continue almost daily, killing over 715 Palestinians since October. Violence also persists in the West Bank, with settler attacks and Israeli military actions escalating amid Israel's broader conflicts with Iran and Hezbollah.
Reports have documented a continuing surge of violent attacks by Israeli settlers across the occupied West Bank this spring: arson, beatings, shootings and property destruction. Israeli forces are regularly present during incidents, with limited arrests reported; Palestinian authorities say bodies have been withheld after some killings, preventing burial and mourning.
The Guardian and other outlets report that Israeli detention facilities are under scrutiny as footage of abuse of Palestinian detainees surfaces. Officials have faced international condemnation following a high-profile video showing detainees in distress, prompting comment from leaders and human-rights bodies.