Dear Friends of the diplomatic community,
Situation Update – Central West Bank and Northern Jordan Valley
Thursday 12th March 2026
The following testimonies were collected from residents, activists and community representatives in the central West Bank and the northern Jordan Valley following the recent regional escalation. They describe restrictions on movement, changes in security conditions, and incidents affecting daily life in Palestinian communities. The testimonies are presented as reported by local residents and reflect their experiences during this period.
Testimony – Resident, Ramallah
During the first three days after the escalation began, all checkpoints and gates around Ramallah were closed, preventing anyone from leaving the city. In the following days, some checkpoints began opening for limited hours, but the situation remains highly unpredictable. Residents may be informed that the northern entrance to Ramallah will be open between 09:00 and 16:00, yet when people arrive they often find it closed for the entire day. At other times, a different entrance may open without prior notice. According to residents, the army frequently does not adhere to the opening hours it announces. As a result, people are unable to plan travel or daily activities, as it is unclear when or where checkpoints will actually be open.
During the first week, there was a significant shortage of fuel and cooking gas. Long lines formed at gas stations and distribution points for cooking gas, and prices for gas, fuel, and electricity have increased. My neighbours describe the general atmosphere as one of shock, tension, and uncertainty about what the coming days may bring.
Unlike in Israel, we do not receive warnings through a Home Front Command alert system. The only guidance comes from the fire department, which has advised people not to go onto rooftops during missile fire. Residents report that large amounts of shrapnel have fallen in Ramallah and nearby villages, with documented cases of fragments landing on houses and in gardens. Some report waking in the night when explosions shake their homes, and children sometimes wake in panic. Schools are closed and classes are being conducted online. Parents report hearing children discuss the events among themselves during these classes, speaking about missiles and the conflict involving Iran and Israel, repeating what they hear from adults.
Settler activity has intensified during this period, as attention is focused on the wider regional conflict. Armed settlers have reportedly entered villages and opened fire. According to locals, eight Palestinians have been killed by settlers in their villages in the past two weeks, including young men in their twenties and others over the age of 50. Our communities describe the situation as extremely tense and express grave concern about what may happen next. Many say they feel a deep sense of helplessness and believe the seriousness of developments on the ground is not widely understood internationally.
Testimony – Resident, Bethlehem
The Container checkpoint - a military checkpoint located between Al-Eizariya (Azaria) and Beit Sahour, east of Jerusalem that effectively separates the northern and southern parts of the West Bank, controlling movement between the Ramallah–Jerusalem area in the north and Bethlehem and Hebron in the south - is currently open, but all other entrances to Bethlehem are closed except for the DCO gate. At the DCO, a permanent checkpoint operates where soldiers check all those passing through, creating heavy congestion and long traffic delays.
Residents report that settlers are taking advantage of the current war period to intensify their attacks. Many say they are simply trying to manage day by day. We also hear missile alarms but have no shelters or protected spaces available. When alarms sound, people remain inside their homes, as there are no other protective options. The situation is frightening.
Testimony – Resident, Northern Jordan Valley
On Sunday, 8 March 2026, Col. Gilad Shariki, commander of the Valley Brigade, visited several Palestinian communities in the northern Jordan Valley: Khirbet Samra, Khalat Makhol, Ein al-Hilweh, Hammam al-Maleh, and al-Farsia. He was accompanied by a representative from the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
During the meeting with residents, the brigade commander stated that Area C would eventually be cleared of Palestinians.
In Khirbet Samra, residents were told that grazing would only be permitted east of the compound near the road. They were also informed that a new fence, referred to locally as the “Scarlet Thread” barrier, is being constructed, which would restrict movement toward Taysir and Tubas. Residents report that the commander stated that the Civil Administration would demolish homes in the community in the future.
Activists who were present at the site were asked to remain away from the meeting and not participate.
Testimony – Activist, Central West Bank and Northern Jordan Valley
Since the attack on Iran and the escalation that followed, residents report that the situation in the West Bank has deteriorated further. On the first day of the escalation, the Israeli army closed all gates at the entrances to Palestinian towns and villages, leaving them sealed for several days. This prevented not only the movement of residents but also the entry and exit of goods and ambulances. Since then, additional gates have reportedly been installed in several locations, including near the villages of Bardala and Ein al-Bida in the northern Jordan Valley.
One area where violence escalated significantly, ultimately resulting in displacement, was the Kaabneh community located on the outskirts of the village of Duma. Residents report that the community has faced increasing violence since October 7. During the past week, however, in what residents describe as coordinated actions involving settlers and the army, the community was ultimately forced to leave.
Following a large settler attack in the area, the army declared the location a Closed Military Zone (CMZ), which was intended to prevent both activists and settlers from entering the area. According to residents and activists, soldiers ensured that activists left the site, and once no one remained to intervene, settlers reportedly destroyed two homes and solar panels belonging to residents. Several days later, while activists were still prevented from entering the area (as were settlers formally), a group of settlers reportedly arrived and violently forced the remaining Palestinian residents to leave. Residents report that soldiers who later arrived at the scene did not intervene despite requests for assistance. Once no one remained to prevent them, settlers demolished the remaining homes in the community.
Since the beginning of the escalation with Iran, six Palestinians have reportedly been killed in the West Bank by armed settlers: on March 2, Muhammad Taha and Muammar Fahim Taha from the village of Qaryut; on March 7, Amir Shinran in Wadi al-Rahim; and on March 8, Tha’er Farouk Hamayel, Farah Judat Hamayel, and Hammad Hassan Murra from the village of Abu Falah. Residents also report dozens of arrests, as well as ongoing settler attacks and harassment in multiple locations.
Note
These testimonies accurately reflect the experiences and accounts reported directly by those living and working in the affected communities. More information can be found here in a report written by Yesh Din - Settlers in Uniform: Violence Against Palestinians by Israelis in Military Uniforms.
We share these testimonies to provide a clearer understanding of the current conditions facing communities in the central West Bank and the northern Jordan Valley.
We welcome continued engagement and urgent attention to the situation on the ground.
In solidarity,
Combatants for Peace
