[4] Havat Gilad, one of 90 settler outposts in the West Bank constructed without obtaining official authorisation from the Israeli government,[5] is located on land allegedly privately owned by Moshe Zar, a religious Zionist and long-time friend of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

[13] In March 2009, five residents of the outpost were briefly arrested on suspicion of throwing stones at police, when security forces attempted to evacuate the site.

[14] In October 2010, Havat Gilad settlers set fire to olive trees belonging to Palestinian farmers of the village of Farata.

[19] A week after the demolition, the destroyed structures were being rebuilt, and the settlers were said to plan to build several new homes, in addition to the ones that were demolished, as an act of protest.

[20] On February 5, 2014, three residents of Havat Gilad Farm were arrested on suspicion of having burned two cars, and for spraying graffiti in the Palestinian village of Farata.

[22] On 30 January 2015, members of the Golani Brigade shot dead a Palestinian man whom they claimed was about to throw a fire bomb at the road leading to Havat Gilad.

[25] On 4 February 2018, the Israeli Government authorized Havat Gilad as a result of which it would be connected to electricity and water, and would no longer be considered an outpost and would become a settlement within the Samaria Regional Council.

[2] On 9 January 2018, a volunteer medic resident and Rabbi of Havat Gilad, Raziel Shevach, was shot by an unidentified assailant while driving his vehicle near his home on Route 60 in the West Bank.

[34][35] David M. Friedman, the United States Ambassador to Israel, tweeted that "an Israeli father of six was killed last night in cold blood by Palestinian terrorists.