In Masafer Yatta, a militarized area of the South Hebron Hills, the policy of displacement, arrest, home and tent demolition, and the destruction of crops is pervasive. Residents face daily violence, whether from settlers or the army that protects the settlers. Every day brings new stories of family suffering.
Just a few meters from the village of Umm al-Khair sits the settlement of Karmiel, with its new and protected homes built on land belonging to the citizens of Umm al-Khair. A fence separates Palestinians from settlers; Palestinians live in makeshift homes and tents, whether roofed with tin, made of caravans, or simple structures. The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) routinely demolish these Palestinian homes under the pretext of being built in areas where construction is prohibited. The occupation army has declared all areas of Masafer Yatta as training zones for its forces.
The occupation forces continue to demolish Palestinian homes without mercy, destroying four houses, tents, and caravans in August alone and displacing entire families. Additionally, settlers and soldiers have cut vital water lines to the village, shot holes in water tanks, and smashed solar panels.
This summer, these demolitions escalated significantly as part of a plan by settlers to displace residents in order to expand their settlements. Settlers and soldiers organized demolitions of homes, daily attacks, and restrictions on grazing and farming. Most residents of Umm al-Khair depend on growing crops for their sheep, but when their crops are destroyed, they are forced to buy feed at exorbitant prices. Road closures make it difficult to transport agricultural products, adding to the expense.
The occupying forces prohibit residents from grazing their sheep on their land under the pretext that the military uses the land for training. To graze their animals on their land would expose these Palestinian herders to arrests, beatings, threats, and fines. Settlers, often protected by soldiers, attack the residents of Umm Al-hair as soldiers look on.
Without warning, soldiers and border police can enter the village with bulldozers to demolish homes, displacing families and children. In an instant, these families lose their belongings and memories. The occupation forces do not spare even the tears of the children. When soldiers arrive for demolitions, they give families just thirty minutes to evacuate and remove their belongings from their homes. Anything left behind is destroyed along with the house.
Afterwards, children and families search through the rubble for their belongings and then are forced to stay with relatives until aid organizations provide them with tents. However, life in these tents is difficult due to high temperatures, so some families dig caves to live in instead, which offers better protection from the elements and settler attacks.
Even the tents that families take refuge in after their homes are demolished are not spared from destruction. Palestinians often tear down their tents, fearing that settlers will attack at night with Molotov cocktails.
Families live in constant fear of both the present and an uncertain future, facing the daily threat of violence. Many children suffer from anxiety and bedwetting, asking their parents nightly if the settlers or the army will come to demolish their home or tent.
Children have begun to gather their belongings and toys into bags in case the occupation forces arrive to demolish their homes. Many families have also expressed concern over the lack of medical and psychological treatment for children and women. While some international organizations provide psychological support, a single session or two is insufficient; children require ongoing support because this occupation is ongoing.
There is no guarantee of safety or stability in Masafer Yatta. In August, eighteen demolition notices were issued for the village of Umm al-Khair alone. Despite families objecting to these notices, their appeals were rejected. Meanwhile, the settlement expansion is being built just meters away.
The situation is equally dire in the village of Khallet al-Daba, just a few kilometres from Umm al-Khair. Despite its remote location, Khallet al-Daba suffers from settler attacks, including the establishment of nearby outposts on Palestinian lands. Soldiers often protect these outposts or arm settlers to protect themselves. On July 4, settlers burned a house and its contents in Khallet al-Daba; fortunately, the family was not home. They have also destroyed other homes in the village, stolen Palestinian livestock, set fire to trees and valleys, and obstructed firefighters from reaching the fires. The settlers also fired bullets at citizens and destroyed solar energy cells and crops essential for the community’s survival.
At the entrance to the village, near the communal tent, residents have installed an alarm system that alerts them whenever someone approaches the village. This alarm is a warning system, allowing residents to take precautions when settlers or occupation forces attack. Despite limited resources, citizens proactively protect themselves, their families, and their property.
