An Al Jazeera investigation has uncovered the intricate relationship between Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank, revealing how this dual identity enables systematic violence, land seizures, and mass displacement. The blurred lines between military personnel and settlers have been highlighted through incidents captured by the investigation, which bolster claims made by Palestinian communities, human rights groups, activists, and journalists about institutional Israeli support for settler attacks.
One particularly striking example occurred in Tal, southwest of Nablus, where Yitzhak Levi Filant, a settler from Yitzhar known locally as “Yaqoub”, was identified through facial matching and local testimonies. Filant was documented attacking farmers while dressed in civilian clothing, only to return to the same village wearing a military uniform, carrying a military-issued weapon, and issuing orders to residents. Filant was placed on the United States sanctions list in August 2024 under President Joe Biden but was removed from the list by the Trump administration in early 2025.
Abbas Melhem, director of the Palestinian Farmers Union, stated that this duality is a daily reality for Palestinians, with settlers often responding to threats of military intervention by donning military uniforms and claiming to be the authority themselves. The Al Jazeera investigation also documented deadlier manifestations of this overlap in Hebron, where settler attacks on Palestinian land have resulted in fatalities and injuries.
The integration between soldiers and settlers is structurally supported by the Israeli military's Regional Defence battalions, known as Hagmar. These units have expanded sixfold since 2023, shifting their core function from guarding settlements to backing settler operations. The force's mission has fundamentally changed, with political support, armament, and financial backing from the Israeli government enabling geographical expansion and Palestinian displacement.