The community of Khirbet al-Marajim is a small Palestinian community on the outskirts of Duma that has lived there for more than 150 years. Some residents have left over the past two years due to settler violence perpetrated by settlers from the Shiloh and Malachei HaShalom settlement areas. The establishment of the Gal Yosef, Michtam LeDavid, and other outposts has intensified friction between settlers and residents, accompanied by a sharp increase in the scale and severity of settler violence in the area. Today, four families remain in the community.
On September 10, 2026, the area of Khirbet al-Marajim and its surroundings was declared a closed military zone until October 10, 2026. Under the order, protective presence activists and visitors are prohibited from entering the declared area, except for family members residing within it.
Since the declaration, settlers have continued to approach the families’ homes, graze their herds in the area, and use violence against residents. For example, on September 15 settlers were documented blocking the dirt road, threatening people inside their car, and spraying them with pepper spray. At one point, a stone was thrown at the vehicle’s rear window, shattering the glass.
The combination of a closed military zone and settler violence against Palestinians is not new. In March 2026, a similar closed military zone order was issued in the area, and several days later Palestinian residents were attacked by settlers, who damaged property and injured residents.
A similar situation has been ongoing for more than a month in Qusra, west of Duma. In Qusra, a closed military zone was declared following settler violence and the establishment of outposts in Area B. For weeks, a Palestinian family has effectively been confined to its home, while settlers have continued to enter the closed military zone. Recent reporting has documented that Palestinian residents remain subject to severe restrictions on their movement while settlers have continued to be present in the area. This pattern forces Palestinian families and communities to leave their homes in order to protect themselves from violent Israeli settlers.
Peace Now: Responsibility for security in the West Bank lies with the Israeli military. Instead of protecting residents and enforcing the law and the military orders it has issued itself, the IDF is allowing settler violence to continue and is contributing to the displacement of Palestinian communities throughout the West Bank.
