Duma, southeast of Nablus, has once again been thrust into violence and fear following the fatal shooting of young Thameen Dweik by a settler, just days after the tenth anniversary of the massacre that killed his infant relative and parents. The incident has reignited concerns over the town’s targeting amid escalating settler attacks, public incitement, and the apparent collusion of occupation forces.

Funerals have become dangerous occasions in Duma. Following Thameen’s death, several attendees were arrested, with settlers posting inciting images online identifying participants. Occupation forces conducted raids, detaining young men in their funeral clothes, in a striking display of intimidation. Witnesses say settler threats and social media posts are increasingly translated into military action, while those responsible for lethal attacks remain free.

The town’s residents live under constant pressure, facing nightly raids, land bulldozing, and restrictions on access to water and farmland. Olive groves and agricultural livelihoods are under siege, with the local economy paralyzed by settlements controlling key resources. Sulaiman Dweik, head of the village council, says that Duma, once spanning 18,500 dunams, now has only 940 usable, while demolition orders, settlement expansion, and restrictions aim to drive residents out.

With the olive harvest and school year approaching, Duma faces an intensifying cycle of harassment, land seizures, and settler violence. Local officials warn that these attacks are part of a systematic policy to clear Palestinian communities southeast of Nablus, paving the way for expanded settler control across the region from Nablus to the Jordan Valley.