Al-Mughayyir, Khirbet Abu Falah, Turmuss Ayya and “Marj Si’” plain area in the eastern and northeastern areas of Ramallah have been repeatedly targeted by settler attacks in recent months. These attacks have resulted in the killing of several residents, the injury of others, and widespread destruction, including the burning of homes, facilities, and agricultural lands, along with spraying racist graffiti on walls and various other assaults.

According to Naboth's Vinyards: Since October 7, that checkpoint has been closed to the village’s residents, preventing them from reaching and cultivating thousands of dunams of agricultural and grazing land east of the village. In the first weeks of the war, shepherd families living in Khirbet Jab’it east of the village, were expelled. Their expulsion enabled settlers from the isolated and extremely violent outpost of “Malachei HaShalom,” together with settlers from the Shiloh area to seize control of the entire area between the villages of al-Mughayyir and Duma, which we have also written about frequently in recent months. About two months ago, settlers in the area escalated their campaign — uprooting olive trees and burning agricultural land east of al-Mughayyir. In addition, an illegal outpost was established above the village’s eastern entrance, which has been closed since October 7. The aim of all these actions is to seize the lands from which Palestinians have been expelled and convert them into settler farmland. Such activity has already been taking place in recent weeks."

Recent timeline

On Augustus 2025, Palestinians resident confronts several major attacks on lands and farmers' properties between Khirbet Abu Falah and Turmus Ayya.

On Augustus 7, 2025: dozens of armed settlers stormed the western outskirts of the village of Al-Mughayyir, specifically the “Marj Si’” plain area between Al-Mughayyir and Abu Falah. Unarmed residents confronted the assailants.

Israeli forces also stormed the village to protect the settlers, leading to clashes. During the confrontation, soldiers fired stun grenades and toxic gas canisters at the residents, though no injuries were reported.

On Augustus 14, Israeli forces convert a Palestinian building in Military outpost in the village of Turmus Ayya.

On Augustus 15, during the night, Israeli forces fired flares in the sky over the town of Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah.

Settlers had stormed the Marj Si’a plain, specifically cutting down a number of olive trees

On Augustus 16, Israeli settlers stormed the Marj Si’ah plain, located between Al-Mughayyir and Abu Falah. During this raid, settlers assaulted Palestinian residents and confronted locals after earlier attacks in the same area that resulted in the cutting down of olive trees belonging to Atef Hamayel the previous day. Israeli settlers torched Abdel Rahim Awad’s farm in Turmus Ayya. In the face of Jewish settlers' rampage, residents confront a massive attack on farmers' lands and property between Khirbet Abu Falah and Turmus Ayya, northeast of Ramallah. Two settlers were injured when residents confronted their attack in the Marj Sa'i area, between the towns of Abu Falah and Turmus Ayya, northeast of Ramallah.

On Augustus 17, in the morning, Israeli Settlers deployed on the outskirts of Turmus Ayya town. They continu to attack Palestinian residents’ vehicles, pelting them with stones at the entrance of the town of Turmus Ayya.

Siege of Al-Mughayyir (Aug. 21–24, 2025):

On Augustus 21, A settler’s unverified claim of attack was used as pretext for a coordinated settler-army campaign against Al-Mughayyir, resulting in mass raids, a total siege, uprooting of centuries-old olive groves, arrests, property destruction, and the isolation of the entire community.

There is an escalation when the ATV of two Israeli settlers from the Gal Yosef farm illegal outpost was accidented near the Palestinian village of al-Mughayyir. They pretend that Palestinian opened fire and caused their vehicle to overturn before fleeing when his gun jammed. One shepherd was lightly injured in the head and evacuated to the hospital. A settler claimed he was shot and beaten in the Eastern Plains of Al-Mughayyir (land recently taken from Palestinian owners). This allegation appears to have been used as justification for escalating settler and military action against the Palestinian village.

Settlers spread around the village from 8:30 a.m., inciting violence online and circulating threats, including a leaflet with a bulldozer calling to demolish the village. According to B.M., the Israeli friends are calling on social media to "Zarbivy Mughayyir" and organize a pogrom on the village, which has already been suffering unrelenting Zionist terror as it is. They uprooted thousands of olive trees, vandalized Palestinian cars, and continued land destruction during the day.

Israeli forces stormed the village of Al-Mughayyir around 9:00 a.m., enforcing a full closure and curfew. The area, including neighboring villages, was completely encircled as the military claimed to be "searching for the attacker." Over 300 soldiers were deployed during the operation. Troops raided homes, arresting residents and converting several houses into military outposts. Footage emerged of soldiers throwing rocks at Palestinian vehicles. The raids were marked by property destruction, theft, and violent searches. Dozens of men were detained, beaten, and taken into custody. The army announced the siege would continue for at least three days. Palestinian vehicles were confiscated, and villagers were threatened with further demolitions and arrests unless they cooperated. Residents remain trapped under siege conditions, without access to medical care, humanitarian aid, or basic logistical support. Israeli forces prevented movement to and from the village for the duration of the four-day operation, with the exception of a few humanitarian cases who managed to leave on foot as ambulances were prevented from reaching them. One of those cases was a woman in labour, who was walking to reach an ambulance near the western entrance to the village and had tear gas cannisters fired in her direction by Israeli forces stationed there, but she was not injured. Community sources reported that Drones dropped tear gas on homes; tear gas and sound bombs were fired directly BY TROOPS at houses. Israeli forces fired sound cannisters, including inside homes, some of which were searched more than once. During one of the house raids, Israeli forces beat two children, causing fractures and bruises in the upper parts of their bodies, and they were transferred to a medical clinic inside the village for treatment. Israeli forces injuring 11 other Palestinians by tear gas inhalation, including five women and six children, one of them an infant. Throughout the operation, Israeli forces detained 14 Palestinians, including a woman, a child, and the head of the village council. Several of those detained were physically assaulted. As of 27 August, four remained in Israeli custody, while the others were released, including the woman and the child.

According to UNOCHA report, during the operation, Israeli forces-imposed a near-total closure by blocking the village’s western entrance, where a partial (intermittently staffed) checkpoint is installed, from the direction of Khirbet Abu Falah village. The other main (eastern) entrance to Al Mughayyir, off Road 458 (the ‘Allon Road’), has been closed with a road gate since mid-2023

During the siege :

Journalists were expelled around 1:20 p.m. onAugustus 21, preventing coverage.

Residents were locked in homes; both entrances blocked.

10 people arrested, including five brothers and village council head Amin Abu Alia.

Graffiti included Stars of David and initials “MTA” and “MH” (Maccabi Tel Aviv & Maccabi Haifa).

The head of the village council, Amin Abu Alia, surrendered after soldiers detained his son: “They linked the siege of the village to my surrender.”

The council member Marzouk Abu Naim reported raids, stun grenades, ransacking, and theft of money and gold : “Their excuse is that a settler was attacked. People lost their trees — ancient trees, uprooted far from the Alon Road [where the shooting happened]. Homes were raided and searched. People were shocked by the number of soldiers and the level of hatred. They ransacked dozens of homes, threw stun grenades. They did this to my house while my wife and I were inside. [In other homes,] they even looted money and gold.”

Abd al-Latif Abu Alya (55) lost 350 olive trees; vowed to replant despite displacement attempts.

Rabeah Abu Naim said soldiers beat his brother and arrested the council head at settlers’ demand.

On Augustus 22, during the night and the day after, 6 excavators and at least one D9 uprooted all the hundred years old olive trees in the plain near Al-Maghayyir Abu Falah and Turmus Ayya. At least 8,000 m² of olive groves were already destroyed. Ambulances were blocked from reaching the wounded Despite the destruction, residents vowed to remain on their land. Calls were issued to Palestinian institutions, humanitarian organizations, and the international community for urgent intervention and protection. ISM (International Solidarity Movement) urged global media and human rights bodies to denounce the violence and act against what it calls crimes against humanity.

The IDF Central Command commander Avi Bluth declared in a video that the IDF is focusing its efforts on the village of Al-Mughayyir, in Binyamin, following the attack that came from there the day before, during which an Israeli shepherd was lightly wounded. According to the commander, the purpose of the operation in the village is to capture the terrorist and to deter the entire village from carrying out attacks: “Every village and every enemy must know that if they carry out an attack against the residents, they will pay a heavy price, they will undergo a curfew, they will undergo encirclement, and they will undergo shaping operations — so that all are deterred.”

“Order on Security Instructions regarding the Adoption of Security Means No. 25/25 (Judea and Samaria, 5785-2025).”: (see attachment)

The Brig. Gen. Yaki Dolf or Major. Gen. Avi Bluth (commanders of the IDF Judea and Samaria Division) published a the Military Order (Judea & Samaria, August 2025)No. 25/25 (2025 – 5785) under his legal and security authority. Applies to an area of 296.8 dunams of land (as marked in red on the attached map), covering several parcels in the eastern and western plains, including parts of Abu Hanoun, Al-Nuqra, Shanshal, Abu Khamisa, and Al-Rifda. To adopt security measures in the designated area in order to protect people’s lives and ensure public safety. Measures include installing physical barriers and temporary security structures. Landowners will receive copies of the order and the attached map. The order will also be published at the Coordination and Liaison Office (DCO). The DCO will set and notify the schedule for enforcement. Right of Objection: Any person affected may submit an objection within 7 days of publication to the Legal Advisor for the area through the DCO. Validity: The order entered into force on 21 August 2025 (27 Av 5785) and remains valid according to applicable law.

According to +972,

Yesh Din and ACRI demanded a criminal investigation of Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fuchs Bluth for alleged war crimes and collective punishment.They cited international law violations and the lack of appeal rights for residents. The IDF spokesperson defended Bluth, calling criticism “inappropriate” and insisting actions were lawful. However, uprooting entire groves deepened suspicions of collective punishment. MK Zvi Sukkot (Religious Zionism) praised the uprooting: “Finally the IDF is acting as it should.” Elisha Yered, settler activist, openly framed the actions as collective punishment and urged wider use across villages.

On 1st Septemeber 2025 Naboth's Vineyard (Dror Etkes / Kerem Navot) stated that:

"In practice, the work was carried out jointly by the army and local settlers who own heavy machinery. The uprooting operations lasted for several days. Following mapping we conducted on the ground, we can now say that the actual area where the army and settlers uprooted trees stands at about 620 dunams — more than double the area included in the order. In addition, settlers have begun — and continue — to carve an entirely new road, with the aim of seizing thousands of dunams between al-Mughayyir and the extremely violent outposts east of the Shiloh settlement. We assume that along this illegal road, settlers will soon establish yet another outpost, whose purpose will be to further tighten the noose around the village of al-Mughayyir. Work at the site has been ongoing for over a week and a half, leaving no doubt that Apartheid General Bluth and his subordinate, Col. ‘Anan Fares - recently appointed commander of the Binyamin Brigade, under whose responsibility this area falls both were, and remain, fully aware of what is happening on the ground: settlers, under army protection, are uprooting olive trees on hundreds of dunams not covered by the military order."

"The area designated for “exposure” is marked in red. It is immediately clear that whoever drew this order on the map did so in full coordination with the settlers themselves: the order does not cover lands that settlers have already seized in recent months. To sum it up: settlers are systematically seizing thousands of dunams of land belonging to al-Mughayyir’s residents through ongoing violent attacks. Instead of protecting Palestinian property and prosecuting the invaders, the army issues an order that clears the way for settlers to take hundreds more dunams of olive orchards. This is the reality that reigns in the West Bank: Israel, through its army, fights, kills, wounds, and subjugates millions of Palestinians in order to preserve it. But for the Apartheid General, Avi Bluth, it all feels natural. It is the reality he grew up in, and the only one he knows."

According to Dror Etkes (Kerem Navot): eight outposts now surround Al-Mughayyir, including Adei Ad (legalized 2022, recognized 2025).

On September 5, 2025, In the village of al-Mughayyir, three residents were arrested: Watan Abdulbasit Abu Alia (22 years old), Mohammed Raiq Abu Naim (19 years old) and Yousri Moussa Abu Alia (38 years old), after house searches. Israeli forces then settled in the western plain of the village, preventing residents from accessing their land, while settlers, protected by the army, proceeded to steal wood.