A Palestinian family says Israeli settlers occupied their unfinished home, intensifying fears over expanding settlement activities in the West Bank
Jalud
A Palestinian family’s dream of building a new home in the occupied West Bank has been shattered after a group of Israeli settlers allegedly seized the unfinished property before construction was completed. The incident has raised fresh concerns over increasing settlement expansion and the growing vulnerability of Palestinian communities living near Israeli settlements.
The house belonged to Mohammad Salameh, who had been constructing the two-story building for his family. According to Salameh, the home was intended to provide a place for his recently engaged son to begin married life. Instead, the unfinished structure was reportedly taken over by Israeli settlers, leaving the family uncertain whether they will ever regain possession of their property.
Verified video footage recorded earlier in the week showed at least six Israeli settlers moving around on the roof of the unfinished house, which is located beneath a nearby hill surrounded by Israeli settlements and smaller settlement outposts. The footage has intensified attention on the incident, which local residents describe as an alarming development in the ongoing dispute over land ownership in the territory.
Salameh said he sought assistance from both the Israeli military and police after discovering the occupation of his property. However, he claimed that his appeals produced no immediate action. He now fears that the house is permanently lost and believes neighboring Palestinian properties could face similar takeovers if authorities fail to intervene.
Expressing his frustration, Salameh said that only the enforcement of law and order could prevent further seizures. He warned that if settlers are allowed to keep one Palestinian home without consequences, other nearby houses could become future targets.
The Israeli military stated that it was examining requests for information regarding the incident but had not issued an official response. Israeli police also did not immediately comment on the reported seizure. Reuters said it was unable to contact the settlers involved for their response, although one individual was seen walking on the roof of the house during a subsequent visit.
The incident occurred near the Palestinian village of Jalud, where community leaders say settlement-related violence has become increasingly frequent. Raed al-Haj Mohammad, head of the village council, described the occupation of an unfinished home as a significant escalation, noting that settlers have now moved to within approximately 100 meters of the village’s residential area.
According to village officials, Jalud has experienced five major settler attacks in recent years. These incidents have reportedly included the burning of homes, destruction of vehicles, and uprooting of agricultural trees, causing significant economic and emotional hardship for local residents. The seizure comes amid broader concerns over settlement activity across the West Bank, where approximately 500,000 Israeli settlers live among nearly three million Palestinians.