Providing Emergency Aid to Palestinian Communities at Risk of Ethnic Cleansing

Photo Credit: Mati Milstein

Many Palestinian communities in the West Bank are under threat of expulsion due to state-backed military and settler violence. Just yesterday, June 25, 2025, three Palestinians were killed and many more injured when over 100 settlers attacked the village of Kafr Malik in the presence of soldiers. They set several homes on fire, and the soldiers shot live fire. More than 30 communities in Area C—that’s more than 1,000 people—have already been forcibly displaced due to this kind of setter violence and military closures that come with devastating economic restrictions. 

When the war with Iran broke out, these communities were subjected to a worsening crisis. A sweeping lockdown imposed by the IDF left entire areas cut off from water, food, medical care, and fuel. Checkpoints isolate towns and villages, while residents endure mounting settler violence—from arson and land theft to daily intimidation. These communities are vulnerable, isolated, and struggling out of sight of Israel’s mainstream media.

In response, NIF grantees like Rabbis for Human Rights expanded their food aid project—standing in solidarity with families who want to stay on their land and resist forced displacement. As of last week, they had delivered 3,000 food packages across the West Bank—from Masafer Yatta in the South Hebron Hills to the northern Jordan Valley.

Now, with a rapid response grant approved this week, our grantees will redouble their efforts and help provide even more support. With fresh water springs like Ein al-Auja diverted to settlements, 120 families in Ras al-Ain will receive immediate water tank deliveries. With no shelters to protect them from falling shrapnel, 30 first aid kits will be distributed across affected communities. And finally, building on the distribution of over 3,000 food packages since the war began, Rabbis for Human Rights is launching a crowdfunding campaign to sustain this vital support.

At the same time, we are scaling up protection for activists who go out to stand with these communities. Their role is critical in curbing violence and resisting forced displacement, but they also need resources that support their personal safety. These activists, led by organizers with NIF grantee Looking the Occupation in the Eye, Bnei Avraham (a group that emerged from NIF grantee The Faithful Left), and many others, need legal advice, training, and to have their travel costs covered. All of this will reinforce their work and make it sustainable. 

The situation demands action. As activists on the ground—both Palestinian and Israeli—continue to show up for one another despite the odds, NIF will be there with them every step of the way.