27 apr 2020
Israeli settlers today chopped down some 40 olive trees in As-Sawiya town, south of the West Bank city of Nablus.Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement construction in the northern West Bank, confirmed that a group of settlers from the nearby Israeli colonial settlement of Rechelim chopped off some 40 olive trees belonging to Abdul-Rahman Mohammad Yousef, a local Palestinian farmer.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.
Settlers' violence includes property and mosque arsons, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, attacks on vulnerable homes, among others.
There are almost 834,000 Israeli settlers living in colonial settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.
Settlers' violence includes property and mosque arsons, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, attacks on vulnerable homes, among others.
There are almost 834,000 Israeli settlers living in colonial settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
26 apr 2020
Two Palestinian young men were badly injured during violent clashes on Saturday with the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in Kafr Qaddum town, east of Qalqilya.
Local activist Murad Shetaiwi said that a large number of Israeli troops stormed the town from different sides and embarked on intensively firing live and rubber bullets at local youths.
Shetaiwi added that two young men suffered rubber bullet injuries, one in his neck and the other in his face.
He also said that soldiers deliberately fired live ammunition at water tanks on rooftops of some houses, causing damage to them.
Every week, Palestinians and foreign activists stage a weekly march in the town of Kafr Qaddum to protest Israel’s closure of the village’s main street and settlement activities.
The Israeli occupation army blocked off the road after expanding the illegal Israeli settlement of Kedumim in 2003, forcing village residents to take a bypass road in order to travel to Nablus, which has extended the travel time to Nablus from 15 minutes to 40 minutes, according to Israeli rights group B'Tselem.
In a separate incident, a horde of extremist Jewish settlers on the same day deployed a tent on Palestinian land in al-Khinzeer area in Jab'a village, south of Bethlehem.
Recently, Jewish settlers living in illegal West Bank settlements escalated their violations in different areas of Bethlehem, where they set up a prefabricated house in the Palestinian area of Khilat al-Nahla and planted saplings on plots of land in the south of the city as part of their attempts to seize more lands.
Local activist Murad Shetaiwi said that a large number of Israeli troops stormed the town from different sides and embarked on intensively firing live and rubber bullets at local youths.
Shetaiwi added that two young men suffered rubber bullet injuries, one in his neck and the other in his face.
He also said that soldiers deliberately fired live ammunition at water tanks on rooftops of some houses, causing damage to them.
Every week, Palestinians and foreign activists stage a weekly march in the town of Kafr Qaddum to protest Israel’s closure of the village’s main street and settlement activities.
The Israeli occupation army blocked off the road after expanding the illegal Israeli settlement of Kedumim in 2003, forcing village residents to take a bypass road in order to travel to Nablus, which has extended the travel time to Nablus from 15 minutes to 40 minutes, according to Israeli rights group B'Tselem.
In a separate incident, a horde of extremist Jewish settlers on the same day deployed a tent on Palestinian land in al-Khinzeer area in Jab'a village, south of Bethlehem.
Recently, Jewish settlers living in illegal West Bank settlements escalated their violations in different areas of Bethlehem, where they set up a prefabricated house in the Palestinian area of Khilat al-Nahla and planted saplings on plots of land in the south of the city as part of their attempts to seize more lands.
24 apr 2020
Human rights center B'Tselem said that Israeli settlers have stepped up their attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank during April despite the coronavirus crisis.
B’Tselem said in an official report that since the start of the corona crisis, Israeli settlers have ramped up attacks against Palestinians throughout the West Bank, with full state backing. The attacks have increased despite the movement restrictions, lockdowns and social distancing measures introduced to battle the pandemic.
During the first three weeks of April, B’Tselem documented 23 settler attacks against Palestinians. In all of March, 23 incidents were documented, 11 of them after the severe restrictions on movement and social gatherings were imposed (mid-March).
In comparison, 11 attacks were recorded in January and 12 in February. In these violent incidents, settlers, some of them carrying firearms, physically assaulted Palestinians with the aid of clubs, axes, electroshock weapons, stones and assault dogs, in some cases causing severe injury. Settlers also attacked homes, torched cars, vandalized and uprooted olive trees and other crops, and stole livestock.
According to B’Tselem, these incidents took place throughout the West Bank, with several epicenters: the area around the recently expanded outpost of Havat Ma'on in the southern hills of al-Khalil, the area around the settlement of Shilo and its adjoining bloc of outposts, with the villages of al-Mughayir, Turmusaya, Qaryut and Qusrah within target range, and the area around the settlement of Halamish, where another new outpost was recently erected.
Settlers harass Palestinian shepherds almost daily in the Jordan Valley near the settlements of Rimonim and Kochav Hashahar, and in the southern hills of al-Khalil. They also graze their cattle and sheep in Palestinians' cultivated fields, mostly in the Jordan Valley, on a daily basis. These routine acts of harassment and vandalism are not included in the above data.
B’Tselem pointed out that the state’s full support for this violence is evident in the actions of Israeli forces on the ground.
The human rights center explained, “Five of eight attacks on Palestinian homes in March occurred in the presence of soldiers, who not only allowed the settlers to do as they pleased but took action against Palestinians trying to protect their families and homes. In some cases, soldiers arrested residents, and in at least three incidents fired tear gas canisters at residents.”
“In three incidents, the soldiers arrived with the marauding settlers or joined them early on in the assault. Similar incidents occurred in April, with soldiers firing rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at residents, as has happened in the villages of Qusrah and a-Shuyukh on 6 April.”
For years, Israel has allowed settlers to attack Palestinians and damage their property virtually unimpeded, as a matter of policy. This includes provision of military protection for the attackers, and in some cases soldiers’ active participation in the assault, B’Tselem said.
B’Tselem said in an official report that since the start of the corona crisis, Israeli settlers have ramped up attacks against Palestinians throughout the West Bank, with full state backing. The attacks have increased despite the movement restrictions, lockdowns and social distancing measures introduced to battle the pandemic.
During the first three weeks of April, B’Tselem documented 23 settler attacks against Palestinians. In all of March, 23 incidents were documented, 11 of them after the severe restrictions on movement and social gatherings were imposed (mid-March).
In comparison, 11 attacks were recorded in January and 12 in February. In these violent incidents, settlers, some of them carrying firearms, physically assaulted Palestinians with the aid of clubs, axes, electroshock weapons, stones and assault dogs, in some cases causing severe injury. Settlers also attacked homes, torched cars, vandalized and uprooted olive trees and other crops, and stole livestock.
According to B’Tselem, these incidents took place throughout the West Bank, with several epicenters: the area around the recently expanded outpost of Havat Ma'on in the southern hills of al-Khalil, the area around the settlement of Shilo and its adjoining bloc of outposts, with the villages of al-Mughayir, Turmusaya, Qaryut and Qusrah within target range, and the area around the settlement of Halamish, where another new outpost was recently erected.
Settlers harass Palestinian shepherds almost daily in the Jordan Valley near the settlements of Rimonim and Kochav Hashahar, and in the southern hills of al-Khalil. They also graze their cattle and sheep in Palestinians' cultivated fields, mostly in the Jordan Valley, on a daily basis. These routine acts of harassment and vandalism are not included in the above data.
B’Tselem pointed out that the state’s full support for this violence is evident in the actions of Israeli forces on the ground.
The human rights center explained, “Five of eight attacks on Palestinian homes in March occurred in the presence of soldiers, who not only allowed the settlers to do as they pleased but took action against Palestinians trying to protect their families and homes. In some cases, soldiers arrested residents, and in at least three incidents fired tear gas canisters at residents.”
“In three incidents, the soldiers arrived with the marauding settlers or joined them early on in the assault. Similar incidents occurred in April, with soldiers firing rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at residents, as has happened in the villages of Qusrah and a-Shuyukh on 6 April.”
For years, Israel has allowed settlers to attack Palestinians and damage their property virtually unimpeded, as a matter of policy. This includes provision of military protection for the attackers, and in some cases soldiers’ active participation in the assault, B’Tselem said.
Israeli settlers today chopped down some 30 olive trees in As-Sawiya town, south of the West Bank city of Nablus.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement construction in the northern West Bank, confirmed that a group of settlers from the nearby Israeli colonial settlement of Rechelim chopped off 33 olive trees belonging to Hamad Saleh Jazi, a local Palestinian farmer.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.
Settlers' violence includes property and mosque arsons, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, attacks on vulnerable homes, among others.
There are almost 834,000 Israeli settlers living in colonial settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement construction in the northern West Bank, confirmed that a group of settlers from the nearby Israeli colonial settlement of Rechelim chopped off 33 olive trees belonging to Hamad Saleh Jazi, a local Palestinian farmer.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.
Settlers' violence includes property and mosque arsons, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, attacks on vulnerable homes, among others.
There are almost 834,000 Israeli settlers living in colonial settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
23 apr 2020
An Israeli settler opened fire in the air today as he approached in his car a post Palestinian volunteers had set up in the south of the West Bank as part of efforts to fight the spread of coronavirus pandemic, according to local sources.
The settler fired several shots in the air as he passed near the post set up at the entrance to the village of Hossan, east of Bethlehem, in a step to intimidate the volunteers. No one was hurt.
Israeli soldiers and settlers often harass Palestinians fighting the spread of coronavirus in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem and force them to stop their work and leave the area.
The settler fired several shots in the air as he passed near the post set up at the entrance to the village of Hossan, east of Bethlehem, in a step to intimidate the volunteers. No one was hurt.
Israeli soldiers and settlers often harass Palestinians fighting the spread of coronavirus in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem and force them to stop their work and leave the area.
20 apr 2020
Israeli settlers today planted trees in a Palestinian-owned land in an area south of the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem in a prelude to taking it over, according to a local official.
Hasan Breijieh, director of the Bethlehem office of the Wall and Settlements Resistance Commission, told WAFA that settlers planted olive trees in a land owned by Zeinab Abu Sneineh in an area near the village of Irtas. This step is usually a prelude to seizing the land.
He said the Israeli army had previously seized land in the same area and considered it state-owned.
Meanwhile, Israeli army bulldozers razed land south of Bethlehem located between the illegal settlements of Migdal Oz and Ifrat, said Breijieh.
He said the 2-dunum plot is located near the entrance to Migdal Oz and is owned by a local Palestinian family that has the official ownership land deeds.
Hasan Breijieh, director of the Bethlehem office of the Wall and Settlements Resistance Commission, told WAFA that settlers planted olive trees in a land owned by Zeinab Abu Sneineh in an area near the village of Irtas. This step is usually a prelude to seizing the land.
He said the Israeli army had previously seized land in the same area and considered it state-owned.
Meanwhile, Israeli army bulldozers razed land south of Bethlehem located between the illegal settlements of Migdal Oz and Ifrat, said Breijieh.
He said the 2-dunum plot is located near the entrance to Migdal Oz and is owned by a local Palestinian family that has the official ownership land deeds.
18 apr 2020
Two Palestinian citizens were wounded on Saturday when Israeli settlers, escorted by armed forces, attacked Palestinian farmers in Masafer Yatta in the West Bank district of al-Khalil.
Local sources said that hordes of settlers, accompanied by an army force, stormed al-Khrouba and Maghayer al-Obeid areas in Masafer Yatta and attacked Palestinian farmers and shepherds.
The settlers tried to force the Palestinian farmers and shepherds out of the attacked areas with the help of Israeli soldiers, stole a donkey and assaulted two Palestinian citizens.
One of the injured is activist Basel al-Adra, a member of Hemaya and Somoud Committee who was attacked while documenting the settler violations.
Eyewitnesses said that al-Adra was violently beaten by the Israeli settlers who also seized his camera.
A Palestinian citizen identified as Shehada Salama suffered injuries in the same attack.
Israeli soldiers later expelled by force all Palestinian farmers in al-Khrouba area and announced it a “closed military zone”.
Al-Khrouba and Maghayer al-Obeid are among 19 Palestinian hamlets in Masafer Yatta which are classified as “Area C” (administered by Israel) according to the Olso Accords.
Palestinian communities in Masafer Yatta suffer from regular settler attacks on their property that are rarely prosecuted and sometimes backed by Israeli authorities.
Israeli settlers attack Palestinian farmers in Masafer Yatta attending to their lands
Israeli settlers attacked today Palestinian farmers as they were working in their lands in Masafer Yatta in the south of the West Bank, according to Fouad Amour, a local activist.
He told WAFA that settlers attacked the farmers in Khirbet al-Khrouba as they were harvesting their crops and attacked an activist who was with the farmers and seized his camera while he was filming the attack.
Israeli soldiers in the area gave cover to the settlers and intervened only to force the farmers to leave their land.
Settlers also attacked residents in another village in Masafer Yatta, said Amour.
He said the settlers attacked the village of Khirbet Maghayer el-Abeed, beat one resident and stole his donkey before leaving it.
Residents of the villages sterilized the area where the settlers and soldiers were after they left it fearing they brought coronavirus with them.
Local sources said that hordes of settlers, accompanied by an army force, stormed al-Khrouba and Maghayer al-Obeid areas in Masafer Yatta and attacked Palestinian farmers and shepherds.
The settlers tried to force the Palestinian farmers and shepherds out of the attacked areas with the help of Israeli soldiers, stole a donkey and assaulted two Palestinian citizens.
One of the injured is activist Basel al-Adra, a member of Hemaya and Somoud Committee who was attacked while documenting the settler violations.
Eyewitnesses said that al-Adra was violently beaten by the Israeli settlers who also seized his camera.
A Palestinian citizen identified as Shehada Salama suffered injuries in the same attack.
Israeli soldiers later expelled by force all Palestinian farmers in al-Khrouba area and announced it a “closed military zone”.
Al-Khrouba and Maghayer al-Obeid are among 19 Palestinian hamlets in Masafer Yatta which are classified as “Area C” (administered by Israel) according to the Olso Accords.
Palestinian communities in Masafer Yatta suffer from regular settler attacks on their property that are rarely prosecuted and sometimes backed by Israeli authorities.
Israeli settlers attack Palestinian farmers in Masafer Yatta attending to their lands
Israeli settlers attacked today Palestinian farmers as they were working in their lands in Masafer Yatta in the south of the West Bank, according to Fouad Amour, a local activist.
He told WAFA that settlers attacked the farmers in Khirbet al-Khrouba as they were harvesting their crops and attacked an activist who was with the farmers and seized his camera while he was filming the attack.
Israeli soldiers in the area gave cover to the settlers and intervened only to force the farmers to leave their land.
Settlers also attacked residents in another village in Masafer Yatta, said Amour.
He said the settlers attacked the village of Khirbet Maghayer el-Abeed, beat one resident and stole his donkey before leaving it.
Residents of the villages sterilized the area where the settlers and soldiers were after they left it fearing they brought coronavirus with them.