Israel’s army has allowed violent settler reservists to operate as armed militias known as hagmar units in the occupied West Bank. These groups were formed in October 2023, as the army moved troops to Gaza. Thousands of settlers were given weapons and military authority, officially under army commanders but with little real oversight. Yaakov*, a former reservist, called them “armed militias doing what they want.” He said senior officers ignore incidents and the hagmar often arrive at conflict scenes before regular forces and sometimes join settler attacks on Palestinians. Violence includes vandalism, theft, intimidation, and extreme brutality such as killings and vehicle run-overs. Nadav Weiman of Breaking the Silence said, “The hagmar are settler militias within the IDF, driven by a violent, zero-sum ideology.” The Israeli military acknowledges “a few incidents” of misconduct and says some reservists have been removed or investigated. Since October 2023, Israeli forces killed over 1,000 Palestinians. The UN reports that settler violence forcibly displaced 29 Palestinian communities after October, a sharp rise from before. The UN warns that “settler-soldiers” blur the line between state and settler violence. The hagmar operate sometimes in military uniform, sometimes as civilians with weapons, causing confusion. Other soldiers report not being briefed about their roles. Relations between hagmar and regular forces often extend beyond formal military lines. Hagmar units originated decades ago as local defense groups but have now been massively activated during the conflict. Initially 7,000 settlers were mobilized; about 500 remain. Settlers’ knowledge of local terrain strengthens their power on the ground. Activists describe occasions where hagmar members gave orders to regular soldiers, even overriding officers. The presence of hagmar dramatically increased friction and violence targeting Palestinian villagers, who are unable to fight back. The military says hagmar must follow IDF rules and operate under supervision, but the reality is more complex. Some hagmar members have criminal records for violence yet now act with state backing. Yehuda Shaul of Breaking the Silence said, “Israel has taken extreme settlers and made them the IDF. They carry out their plans through formal military service.” This new reality marks a troubling escalation in the occupation and settler violence in the West Bank. *Names changed for security reasons.