Residents of Turmus Ayya, a West Bank village where approximately 80% of the population holds US citizenship, are experiencing ongoing violence attributed to Israeli settlers from nearby outposts. Many of these Palestinian Americans maintain homes in the village while residing primarily in US cities including New York, Chicago, and New Jersey, returning seasonally to maintain cultural and family connections.
The village sits near Shilo, a hilltop settlement that has become a destination for Americans interested in Jewish heritage. Incidents of settler violence have included nighttime intimidation involving gunfire, vehicle use, and property damage. Village council head Yaser Alkam, who spent 35 years in California before returning, described the situation as asymmetrical, with one side attacking and the other defending with limited resources.
According to available records, nine Palestinian Americans have been killed in the West Bank since 2022 in incidents involving settlers or the Israeli military. Alkam has contacted the US embassy for assistance during attacks, and embassy officials have provided support on some occasions, including intervention in late July. However, the frequency and effectiveness of US protection remain limited during violent incidents.
The Trump administration, through US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, has expressed support for Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Huckabee, an evangelical Christian, has visited Shilo and made public statements of solidarity with settlers. When asked about the situation, a State Department spokesperson stated that the US does not support Israeli annexation of the West Bank and emphasized commitment to regional stability and security.
Resident Ghaith Odeh, who grew up in Queens and maintains residence in New Jersey, relocated his family to their ancestral land in Turmus Ayya in 2021 and now lives on the village’s border near settler outposts. Violence in the area predates the October 2023 Hamas attacks and subsequent Israeli military operations in Gaza, though incidents have intensified over the past year, residents report.
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