Homesh village, a symbol of Israeli colonialism by force

Hooded Israeli settlers attack a Palestinian village in the West Bank: they come from a hilltop, in the Homesh region, north of Nablus. The incident occurred on May 24, 2023. In videos published on social media, we see them armed with stones and sticks, destroying everything in their path. The village is one of 22 Jewish settlements authorized in the spring by Israeli authorities. Thanks to hundreds of amateur videos, official documents and satellite images, Les Révélateurs details the stages of the colonization of Palestinian lands, of which Homesh is an example.

Analysis of satellite imagery shows the recent reopening of the hamlet by settlers. As of 2021, the hill on which the village of Homesh is located is sparsely inhabited and urban expansion is limited. Two years later, the first permanent buildings and constructions appeared. A road was added and tents signaled the arrival of new residents. In 2024, new moldings and solar panels will be visible from the sky. In September 2025, a crèche was even inaugurated to welcome newly settled settler families.

Located on more than 75% land belonging to the Palestinian population, Homesh remains one of the colonies abandoned by Israeli settlers in 2005: at the time, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon defended plans for disengagement from the Palestinian territories. This illegal colony has even been evacuated several times. Nearly twenty years later, its development has once again been made possible by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. Because it was profitable for the colonization, this agreement allowed for the granting of building permits that would allow the expansion of the Israeli colony and the establishment of new outposts in the region.

This inauguration did not go smoothly, with increasing acts of violence and intimidation aimed at expelling Palestinians from their territory. The two camps tore apart and attacked each other. In Homesh, the settlers, who were heavily armed, accused Palestinians of threatening them. In recent satellite imagery, we see new security installations, such as checkpoints and new protective walls. Another image, geolocated by Les Révélateurs very close to Homesh, also shows violent settlers burning a car. They were seen entering Palestinian homes and beating the residents.

In a video published by a group of Homesh settlers, one of them mentioned that Israeli soldiers came as reinforcements for “monitor all entrances on the road to Homesh. He made sure no terrorists could get in.”. Previously active in the struggle against colonialism and inter-communal violence, the army today protects outposts and delivers “fait accompli” colonization.

To bring in new candidates for the inauguration, propaganda campaigns were launched on social networks, here for calls for community projects, there for online prize pools that funded visitation and exchange programs. The latter, identified by Les Révélateurs, is laudatory “magnificent farms in Judea and Samaria”the name given to the West Bank by Israel. We found hundreds of publications encouraging potential candidates to come and establish themselves, to establish a lasting Israeli presence. They can register directly online on the platform with the clear title: “Welcome to the ‘Adopt Agriculture’ project!”

Homesh Village taking advantage of these financial advantages and the discourse of these promotional campaigns requires hegemony: “You should be part of history!“, to support “Vision of a strong and prosperous Jewish colony in the heart of the Land of Israel“. Massive propaganda for colonialism that is gradually dissolving the West Bank.

This rebirth was welcomed by the Israeli Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, who came directly to Homesh. This right-wing figure wants one million Israelis to settle in the West Bank: “This region will become prosperous again and so will other regions around it. This region will become rich. We build Zionism while ensuring our security and we build the land of Israel.”

Apart from the Homesh case, the colonization of the West Bank region has increased rapidly since 2022. New building permits given to settlers are increasing. According to data from the NGO Peace Now documenting the daily development of colonies and outposts in the West Bank, Benjamin Netanyahu’s return to power in 2012 and 2022 respectively marks the revival of these illegal outposts. As of September 2025, the United Nations General Assembly counted 271 outposts and 166 colonies. Since the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists on October 7 2023, the number of legalized settlements is at its highest point.

The West Bank, for many years, has been a region without territorial continuity. Filter dams installed by Israeli forces now fragment the territory and impede the movement of Palestinian residents. In May 2025, Ocha identified 849 such installations. The institutionalized erosion of West Bank soil has gradually made the creation of a Palestinian state impossible, although the state is now recognized by most UN member states.