Israeli settlers escorted by military forces grabbed hold on Tuesday of large tracts of Palestinian land located between the towns of Deir Dibwan and Rammun to the east of Ramallah, in the central occupied West Bank.

Head of Deir Dibwan municipality, Mansour Mansour, told WAFA news agency that dozens of settlers stormed the area and seized around 47 dunums of Palestinian land.

According to the same sources, the Israeli settlers used bulldozers to raze the land belonging to Palestinians in Ramallah’s Deir Dibwan and Rammun towns.

Israeli forces who escorted the settlers prevented the locals’ access to their lands and forced them out of the area.

The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B’Tselem) has reported several cases of settler violence and vandalism which have become part of Palestinians’ daily life under occupation.

B’Tselem said Israeli security forces enable these violent actions, which result in Palestinian casualties – injuries and fatalities – as well as damage to land and property. In some cases, they even serve as an armed escort, or even join in the attacks. Investigations, if even opened, are usually closed with no action taken against perpetrators as part of an undeclared policy of leniency. The long-term effect of this violence is the dispossession of Palestinians from increasing parts of the West Bank, making it easier for Israel to take over land and resources.