Israeli settlers in the West Bank are establishing armed training camps in a highly organized and unprecedented manner. These camps, supported by Israeli military and special units, involve semi-military formations conducting firearms training resembling official Israeli army drills.

Settlement affairs expert Salah Al-Khawaja attributes this development to a broader strategy led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, and Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Al-Khawaja, the training efforts are part of plans to establish what Ben-Gvir refers to as a "National Guard," composed of militias with dedicated budgets, military support, and defined structures. These groups are intended to strengthen settlement security under the pretext of safeguarding West Bank areas and Jerusalem.

Al-Khawaja highlighted that around 170,000 settlers are now armed, with 90,000 U.S.-supplied firearms. Many of these settlers receive military-style training for up to three years, equipping them with advanced combat and tactical expertise. They maintain close communication with Israeli security services, allowing them to monitor Palestinian citizens, inspect vehicles, and carry out military drills.

Activist Awad Abu Samra echoed these concerns, reporting that settlers are seizing land to establish shooting ranges and tactical training camps. These camps have been set up near Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah, and Awarta, south of Nablus. Originally intended for basic firearms practice, these areas have evolved into sites for advanced military training, including mock raids and other tactical exercises.

Abu Samra warned that these training camps are being used to intimidate and terrorize Palestinians while preparing settlers for future military actions. He added that the events of October 7 emboldened these groups, encouraging them to extend their attacks into Area B, a region previously under partial Palestinian Authority administration.

Both Al-Khawaja and Abu Samra highlighted that these developments signal a dangerous shift. They argue that these armed groups are becoming increasingly autonomous from Israel’s formal security apparatus. Ben-Gvir’s plan to centralize their control through the Civil Administration could lead to the formalization of a well-equipped settler militia with the resources to intensify land seizures and military operations in the West Bank.