Residents of Turmus Ayya, a West Bank village where approximately 80% of inhabitants hold US citizenship, report experiencing escalating violence from nearby Israeli settlers. The village sits near Shilo, an Israeli settlement that has attracted American residents seeking religious connections to Jewish heritage. According to village accounts, settlers conduct nighttime raids using vehicles and firearms, with some incidents involving firebombing and property damage.
Palestinian American residents describe a pattern of attacks that have intensified over the past year, though some violence predates the October 2023 Hamas attacks and subsequent Israel-Gaza war. Village council head Yaser Alkam, a former California resident, stated that nine Palestinian Americans have been killed in the West Bank since 2022 by either settlers or Israeli military forces. Residents report that contact with the US embassy has yielded limited protection, with officials sometimes directing them to local authorities rather than intervening directly.
The Trump administration, through US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, has expressed strong support for Israeli settlement claims in the West Bank. Huckabee, an evangelical Christian, has visited Shilo twice in recent years and made statements of solidarity with settlers. A US State Department spokesperson stated the administration does not support Israeli annexation of the West Bank and condemned violence by any party, while noting regular dialogue with partners on stability and security.
Residents expressed frustration over what they perceive as unequal treatment based on their Palestinian identity. Some noted that earlier US intervention on specific occasions—such as removal of Israeli military from a doctor’s home in late July—demonstrated American capacity to influence events, leading them to question why broader protection remains unavailable. Several residents, including Ghaith Odeh and Maisoon Ali, recounted specific incidents of violence and described security measures they have implemented, such as installing metal shutters and barbed wire fencing, to protect their families and homes.
The situation has disrupted daily life in the village, with residents reporting fear of bringing children to the area and curtailed participation in community activities. Some Palestinian Americans expressed disappointment with the current administration’s approach, noting that certain residents had voted for Trump but lost confidence following the removal of violent settlers from sanctions lists established under the previous administration.
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