How are settlers using shepherding outposts to seize Palestinian land?

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Settlers Employ Shepherding Outposts to Facilitate Land Seizures in the West Bank

Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank report that armed Jewish settlers are increasingly seizing their land by establishing so-called shepherding outposts. These outposts involve settlers bringing livestock to graze on land, effectively blocking Palestinian access and use. This practice has intensified since October 7, with human rights groups identifying the "hilltop youth" as a radical element within the settler movement actively engaged in these land grabs.
Establishment of Shepherding Outposts

Settlers are establishing shepherding outposts by bringing livestock, primarily sheep and goats, to Palestinian-owned land. These outposts often feature temporary structures like bungalows and are frequently surrounded by wire fences. The presence of livestock on the land directly prevents Palestinians from utilizing it for agriculture or grazing, as observed near Deir Jarir where settlers' sheep grazed on land belonging to local families.
Methods of Land Appropriation and Control

Beyond the physical presence of livestock, settlers utilize various tactics to assert control over Palestinian land. This includes aggressive confiscations of property such as houses, tractors, horses, and donkeys. Some reports indicate settlers use violence, including throwing stones and driving vehicles erratically into Palestinian livestock. Israeli rights group B’Tselem has also documented instances where settler groups, allegedly backed by Israeli security forces, have reduced grazing areas, blocked water supplies, and isolated regions like the Jordan Valley.
The "Hilltop Youth" and Extremist Involvement

A significant portion of the intensified activity is attributed to the "hilltop youth," a group characterized by teenage school dropouts who aim to settle all of biblical Israel. Israeli analyst Elhanan Miller describes these individuals as "far-right extremists" who illegally occupy Palestinian land, often using shepherding as a cover for land seizure and resource acquisition. These youths are reportedly marginalized and sometimes clash with Israeli security forces.
Broader Context of Occupation and Intensified Seizures

The Israeli occupation of the West Bank, ongoing since 1967, has seen approximately 490,000 Israeli settlers living in communities considered illegal under international law. The period since the October 7 attack and the subsequent war in Gaza has witnessed a marked increase in bloodshed and land seizures. Notably, Israeli authorities have declared significant tracts of land, such as 800 hectares near the Jordan Valley village of Jiftlik in March, as state land, further restricting Palestinian access and control over their ancestral territories.

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How are settlers using shepherding outposts to seize Palestinian land?

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