A photograph taken by Associated Press photographer Leo Correa in July 2024 captures the Kaabneh family in the West Bank as they keep a nightly watch over their property, which is regularly trespassed upon by Israeli settlers. The family lives near the town of Taybeh, on the outskirts of Israeli outposts. Correa noted that since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023, Israeli settlers have increased their attacks against Palestinians, including military raids and violent acts. To protect their home, the Kaabneh family has installed a barbed-wire fence, but settlers still gather around the house each morning and evening, often filming with their phones and staying close. Activists and volunteers also accompany the family to monitor the settlers' movements. The photo was taken as settlers arrived with their livestock near the family's property. Nayef Kaabneh, a member of the family, used a flashlight to track the settlers’ movements while recording them on his phone to document the situation. His nephew Muhammad stood beside him, helping to spot the settlers. Correa was with other family members when the settlers arrived. He described the image as powerful in conveying the tension, with the flashlight partially illuminating the fence against the fading light, while the settlers remained out of frame. The low-angle composition emphasizes the fence against the sky, highlighting the unseen presence of the settlers. The settlers, emboldened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government, have increased attacks on Palestinian towns and villages, often harassing residents and setting homes, mosques, and fields on fire. Israel captured the West Bank during the 1967 Mideast war and has since built numerous settlements, which now house over 500,000 Jewish settlers living alongside approximately 2.5 million Palestinians. The United Nations and much of the international community view these settlements as illegally occupied territories and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians. While Israel’s military operates throughout the West Bank, human rights groups have criticized the military for often ignoring settler violence. Recently, Israel’s defense minister announced plans to transfer full law enforcement responsibilities for settlers to the Israeli police.