Rural Palestinians in the occupied West Bank say they have faced increased harassment from Israeli settlers since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Settlers have been blocking roads and engaging in armed raids, sabotaging wells, and using the war as a pretext to expropriate Palestinian lands. According to the UN's humanitarian agency, there has been a significant increase in the number of incidents between settlers and Palestinians since the start of the war. European and US diplomats have condemned the rise in violence by settlers, which undermines Palestinian human rights and the prospects for a two-state solution. The violence has strained the relationship between the US and Israel, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling the incidents "unacceptable" during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The surge in settler violence has led to record levels of Palestinian deaths in the West Bank and the displacement of Palestinian communities. This heightened aggression by settlers raises concerns about the well-being and safety of West Bank Palestinians.