In the latest escalation of settler aggression in the occupied West Bank, two Israeli settlers recently sanctioned by the UK—Neria Ben Pazi and Zohar Sabah—have joined efforts to displace Palestinian residents of Mughayyir al-Deir. These settlers arrived at an outpost established just meters away from a Palestinian home, heightening fears and forcing families to flee. The UK’s sanctions were intended as a deterrent, yet the settlers’ bold presence reflects a growing sense of impunity.
Neria Ben Pazi’s group, “Neria’s Farm,” became one of four Israeli entities sanctioned by the UK government, which simultaneously suspended free-trade negotiations with Israel due to humanitarian concerns in Gaza. Foreign Secretary David Lammy declared, “The Israeli government has a responsibility to intervene and halt these aggressive actions.” Despite this, Ben Pazi was seen making prolonged visits to the new outpost, reinforcing its position with materials and additional settlers.
This aggressive move was matched by Zohar Sabah, another settler added to the UK’s list for “supporting acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians.” Sabah’s presence was documented by activists a day after sanctions were announced. The outpost now serves as a base for intimidation—erected near a sheep enclosure, it immediately stirred fear in the local Palestinian community.
“I haven’t slept since they came, and the children are terrified,” said Ahmad Sulaiman, a 58-year-old father of eleven. His home sits closest to the encampment, and by Thursday, the family was packing to leave, uncertain of where they would go. “The settlers told me: ‘This is our home.’ There is nothing I can do. They have guns and other weapons,” he added.
Instead of being deterred, the settlers have expanded their presence. Israeli officials offered little resistance—in fact, far-right Knesset member Zvi Sukkot was filmed visiting the illegal site. “Everyone has got used to the idea that we can kill 100 Gazans in one night during a war and nobody in the world cares,” he remarked on Israeli TV, reinforcing the settlers’ sense of invincibility.
Mughayyir al-Deir now faces a threat that is not just physical but existential. According to Yonatan Mizrachi of Peace Now’s Settlement Watch, “It shows the settlers’ lack of fear, and the understanding that they can do what they like; they can just set up in the Palestinian community.”
This encroachment is part of a broader campaign of forced displacement, intensified since the October 2023 Hamas attacks. Data from B’tselem show that over 1,200 Palestinians—nearly half of them children—have been expelled from 20 communities. Some, like the Sulaiman family, are being displaced for a second time after losing their homes in the 1948 nakba.
Though illegal under both international and Israeli law, settler outposts like the one in Mughayyir al-Deir often remain untouched. The Israeli army claimed no role in the evacuation. A spokesperson stated, “The alleged evacuation was neither conducted by [IDF troops] nor carried out with their approval.”
The UK and US governments have repeatedly cited Ben Pazi for violent activity, including the 2023 assault near Wadi as-Seeq. His actions also drew condemnation from Israel’s Maj Gen Yehuda Fuchs, who banned him from the West Bank in 2023. Yet Ben Pazi continues to operate openly, coordinating logistics and building infrastructure for new settlements.
Activists report that Ben Pazi was seen this week greeting individuals in military-style attire, raising questions about unofficial military involvement. Despite inquiries, he declined to comment, and Sabah could not be reached. Israeli military officials passed enforcement responsibility to political authorities.
Shai Parnes of B’tselem emphasized that the settler movement is backed by state policy. “What is happening is not just about a violent threat in this place or that; it’s all part of a well-defended and subsidised policy run by the government.”
