Palestinians say Israeli settler attacks farmers in Kobar

September 11, 2026 at 12:36 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

A settler known as 'Ghazal' has been attacking Palestinian farmers in Kobar, northwest of Ramallah, stealing sheep and solar panels while wearing an army uniform. Bassema Khader, 63, said he called Israeli Border Police who helped him take her sheep. The attacks are part of an ongoing Israeli pogrom in the West Bank targeting Palestinians.

Key Facts

Bassema Khader, 63, said a settler known as 'Ghazal' stole her sheep with the help of Israeli Border Police in Kobar.
Mohammad Majdi Abu Makho was run over by a settler's vehicle and pepper-sprayed while praying near Deir Jarir on December 25, 2025.
Ali Majed Hamadneh, 23, was killed in Deir Jarir on April 11, 2026, after Israeli forces responded to reported stone-throwing.

Settler Attacks in Kobar

In Kobar, northwest of Ramallah, a settler known as 'Ghazal' has been attacking Palestinian farmers, they allege. Bassema Khader, 63, whose family owns a farm in the al-Daak area, recognised him even when he arrived wearing a mask. Khader said he would fire shots and steal sheep and solar panels almost every day, approaching cars and demanding keys while claiming to be from the army. When Khader confronted him as he attempted to steal her sheep, he called for backup, telling her the Israeli Border Police were coming. With their help, he took all the sheep and brought them to the settlement, Khader recounted.

Land and Identity

For Palestinians, the stakes of this escalating violence are existential. Mohammad Majdi Abu Makho, a Palestinian from Deir Jarir, northeast of Ramallah, was run over by a settler's vehicle and pepper-sprayed while praying near his village entrance on December 25, 2025. Abu Makho said the settler routinely brought sheep to the town's entrance, prompting residents to try to drive him away, but the settler would start firing indiscriminately. The Israeli military confirmed after the incident that the settler was an army reservist and said he had also opened fire inside Deir Jarir earlier that day while wearing civilian clothes. His weapon was confiscated and his reserve service suspended while the incidents were investigated.

Fatal Encounters

This blurring of lines between civilian settlers and the military can frequently turn deadly. On April 11, 2026, 23-year-old Ali Majed Hamadneh was killed in Deir Jarir. According to a statement issued that day by the Israeli military, forces were dispatched following reports of Palestinians throwing stones at an Israeli.