Latest news with #Hebron
Arab News
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Killing of Palestinian activist in West Bank sparks condemnation
LONDON: Rights groups and diplomats have condemned the killing of Palestinian activist and journalist Awda Al-Hathaleen, who contributed to the Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land,' as calls grow for accountability over increasing settler violence in the occupied West Bank. Al-Hathaleen was shot in the chest on Monday during a raid by Israel settlers in Umm Al-Khair village in the South Hebron Hills. One of the settlers involved in the attack was identified as Yinon Levi, who has been sanctioned by the UK and the EU, while US President Donald Trump rescinded restrictions at the beginning of his presidency this year. In a statement on Wednesday, Amnesty International condemned the killing as a 'cold-blooded' act and 'a brutal reminder of the relentless violence faced by Palestinian communities.' The organization's senior director for research, advocacy, policy and campaigns, Erika Guevara Rosas, urged an independent international investigation into his death and growing settler violence in the territory. Describing the situation in the West Bank as state impunity for Israeli settler violence, Rosas called out Israeli authorities for what she described as a 'deliberate failure' to investigate settler attacks. She said an international inquiry 'must address the role of Israeli authorities' in fueling settler violence against Palestinians, pointing to the recurrent failure to ensure justice and protect Palestinians' lives. Israel authorities said Levi was arrested in relation to his alleged responsibility for the killing, but after a court hearing he was released to house arrest as investigations continue. Amensty International's Rosas said Al-Hathaleen, who had recently briefed UK politicians on threats to his life, 'was entitled to protection. His killing is the cruel consequence of Israel's sustained policy of forcibly expulsing Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank, including Masafer Yatta,' Rosas added. 'Awda Al-Hathaleen's killing is not the first, but it must be the last.' Al-Hathaleen, a father of three and prominent human rights defender from the Masafer Yatta region, was a central voice in the Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land,' which documented the ongoing displacement and harassment of Palestinian communities in the West Bank. His death comes during a sharp incease in settler-led assaults and Palestinian casualties in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza. At least 1,009 Palestinians have been killed and more than 7,000 injured in the West Bank since October 2023. Rights groups have repeatedly said that Israeli settlers, often accompanied by the army, have escalated attacks and land seizures in recent months with little or no accountability. Israeli human rights organization, Rabbis for Human Rights, called Al-Hathaleen's murder 'the outcome of decades of unchecked settler violence and a system that grants total impunity to those who carry it out.' In a tribute, the organization said Al-Hathaleen 'stood at the forefront of the struggle against home demolitions and settler violence.' 'He often welcomed delegations of rabbis, giving them tours of the village and sharing its history with deep generosity and courage. He was a longtime partner in our humanitarian aid work and worked closely with Rabbis for Human Rights for many years. His steadfast presence and leadership were a source of strength to all of us.' The rights group vowed to 'stand with the people of Umm al-Kheir as they resist a system that seeks to erase them - as they fight to stay on their land, to live, and to thrive.' The French foreign ministry released a statement on Tuesday calling settler violence 'acts of terrorism,' and warning of increasing sanctions against Israeli government officials if such attacks continue. It condemned the rising settler attacks and urged Israeli authorities to 'uphold their responsibilities and immediately punish the perpetrators of such violence, which is continuing with impunity, and protect Palestinian civilians.' The ministry reiterated France's stance against the expansion of illegal settlements 'which is contrary to international law, as the International Court of Justice concluded in its advisory opinion of July 19, 2024.' In February last year, France sanctioned extremist Israeli settlers guilty of violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. There are 28 individuals who face an administrative ban on entering the country.
Al Arabiya
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Palestinians in West Bank village face new crisis as Israeli settlers cut off water
Palestinians in the village of Susiya in the Israeli-occupied West Bank thought life could not get worse as Israeli settlers were attacking them repeatedly and ripping apart their precious olive groves. Then settlers armed with knives set upon their water sources, villagers said. 'They want us to live without water, and here they also cut the electrical wires,' said Mousa Mughnem, 67, who lives with his 60-year-old wife Najah in the village near the town of Hebron. Palestinians in the West Bank have reported growing Israeli settler violence since war erupted between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza on October 7, 2023. Palestinian authorities who exercise limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank say the settlers are trying to force Palestinians off their lands in order to seize them. Emboldened by some far-right Israeli government ministers who seek to annex the West Bank, settlers have assaulted Palestinian farmers, cut down trees and set fire to precious olive groves. Jihad Al-Nawajaa, the head of the Susiya village council, said the water shortages have become unbearable. 'If we do not have water here, we will not survive. They make us thirsty in order to expel us, and their aim is to expel people,' he said. Residents of Susiya accuse Israeli settlers of severing water pipes and electricity wires, chopping down their olive trees and preventing them from herding their sheep. In response to a Reuters request for a comment on settler attacks in Susiya, the Israeli military said soldiers have been dispatched to deal with any troubles and have removed Israeli citizens involved. 'As for the most recent incident that occurred on Monday (July 28), same protocol was used, and no injuries were reported,' the army said. Olive trees part of Palestinian identity Palestinians have cultivated olive trees for generations and regard them as an enduring symbol of their national identity. Some villagers, like Najah Mughnem, are defiant and say they will remain attached to their land and their olives no matter what the settlers do. 'Even if they burn down or cut down the trees or inflict damage, we will not leave,' she said. B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization, has reported around 54 settler attacks on the village since October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel from Gaza, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel's military response has killed more than 60,000 people in Gaza, according to the enclave's health authorities. 'We are afraid... We spend the days and nights nervous, we hardly sleep,' said Fawziyeh Al-Nawajaa, 58, a Susiya villager. Susiya residents have faced threats of demolition for decades. Palestinians there were so attached to their lands that they once lived in caves until they were expelled in 1986 after an archaeological site was discovered. The caves were later destroyed and they now live in tents and prefabricated buildings. The village is spread across several rocky hillsides between a Jewish settlement to the south and a Jewish archaeological site to the north - land Israel has occupied since the 1967 Middle East war.
Arab News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Palestinians in West Bank village face new crisis as settlers cut off water
WEST BANK: Palestinians in the village of Susiya in the Israeli-occupied West Bank thought life could not get worse as Jewish settlers were attacking them repeatedly and ripping apart their precious olive groves. Then settlers armed with knives set upon their water sources, villagers said. 'They want us to live without water, and here they also cut the electrical wires,' said Mousa Mughnem, 67, who lives with his 60-year-old wife Najah in the village near the town of Hebron. Palestinians in the West Bank have reported growing Israeli settler violence since war erupted between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza on October 7, 2023. Palestinian authorities who exercise limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank say the settlers are trying to force Palestinians off their lands in order to seize them. Emboldened by some far-right Israeli government ministers who seek to annex the West Bank, settlers have assaulted Palestinian farmers, cut down trees and set fire to precious olive groves. Jihad Al-Nawajaa, the head of the Susiya village council, said the water shortages have become unbearable. 'If we do not have water here, we will not survive. They make us thirsty in order to expel us, and their aim is to expel people,' he said. Residents of Susiya accuse Israeli settlers of severing water pipes and electricity wires, chopping down their olive trees and preventing them from herding their sheep. In response to a Reuters request for a comment on settler attacks in Susiya, the Israeli military said soldiers have been dispatched to deal with any troubles and have removed Israeli citizens involved. 'As for the most recent incident that occurred on Monday (July 28), same protocol was used, and no injuries were reported,' the army said. OLIVE TREES PART OF PALESTINIAN IDENTITY Palestinians have cultivated olive trees for generations and regard them as an enduring symbol of their national identity. Some villagers, like Najah Mughnem, are defiant and say they will remain attached to their land and their olives no matter what the settlers do. 'Even if they burn down or cut down the trees or inflict damage, we will not leave,' she said. B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization, has reported around 54 settler attacks on the village since October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel from Gaza, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel's military response has killed more than 60,000 people in Gaza, according to the enclave's health authorities. 'We are afraid... We spend the days and nights nervous, we hardly sleep,' said Fawziyeh Al-Nawajaa, 58, a Susiya villager. Susiya residents have faced threats of demolition for decades. Palestinians there were so attached to their lands that they once lived in caves until they were expelled in 1986 after an archaeological site was discovered. The caves were later destroyed and they now live in tents and prefabricated buildings. The village is spread across several rocky hillsides between a Jewish settlement to the south and a Jewish archaeological site to the north — land Israel has occupied since the 1967 Middle East war.
Reuters
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Palestinians in West Bank village face new crisis as settlers cut off water
SUSIYA, West Bank, July 30 (Reuters) - Palestinians in the village of Susiya in the Israeli-occupied West Bank thought life could not get worse as Jewish settlers were attacking them repeatedly and ripping apart their precious olive groves. Then settlers armed with knives set upon their water sources, villagers said. "They want us to live without water, and here they also cut the electrical wires," said Mousa Mughnem, 67, who lives with his 60-year-old wife Najah in the village near the town of Hebron. Palestinians in the West Bank have reported growing Israeli settler violence since war erupted between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza on October 7, 2023. Palestinian authorities who exercise limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank say the settlers are trying to force Palestinians off their lands in order to seize them. Emboldened by some far-right Israeli government ministers who seek to annex the West Bank, settlers have assaulted Palestinian farmers, cut down trees and set fire to precious olive groves. Jihad Al-Nawajaa, the head of the Susiya village council, said the water shortages have become unbearable. "If we do not have water here, we will not survive. They make us thirsty in order to expel us, and their aim is to expel people," he said. Residents of Susiya accuse Israeli settlers of severing water pipes and electricity wires, chopping down their olive trees and preventing them from herding their sheep. In response to a Reuters request for a comment on settler attacks in Susiya, the Israeli military said soldiers have been dispatched to deal with any troubles and have removed Israeli citizens involved. "As for the most recent incident that occurred on Monday (July 28), same protocol was used, and no injuries were reported," the army said. Palestinians have cultivated olive trees for generations and regard them as an enduring symbol of their national identity. Some villagers, like Najah Mughnem, are defiant and say they will remain attached to their land and their olives no matter what the settlers do. "Even if they burn down or cut down the trees or inflict damage, we will not leave," she said. B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization, has reported around 54 settler attacks on the village since October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel from Gaza, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel's military response has killed more than 60,000 people in Gaza, according to the enclave's health authorities. "We are afraid... We spend the days and nights nervous, we hardly sleep," said Fawziyeh Al-Nawajaa, 58, a Susiya villager. Susiya residents have faced threats of demolition for decades. Palestinians there were so attached to their lands that they once lived in caves until they were expelled in 1986 after an archaeological site was discovered. The caves were later destroyed and they now live in tents and prefabricated buildings. The village is spread across several rocky hillsides between a Jewish settlement to the south and a Jewish archaeological site to the north - land Israel has occupied since the 1967 Middle East war.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Palestinian who helped make Oscar-winning No Other Land killed in West Bank
Awdah Hathaleen, a Palestinian activist and journalist who helped make the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, has been killed during an attack by Israeli settlers in the south Hebron hills. The attack on Monday was captured on video, which appears to show an Israeli settler, Yinon Levi, who was put under sanctions by the US president Joe Biden then removed from the sanctions list by Donald Trump, firing his gun wildly at the time of the killing. He was later arrested by Israeli police for questioning, though no charges have been filed against him. The killing comes amid an increasing wave of settler and Israeli military violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. At least 1,009 Palestinians have been killed and more than 7,000 injured in the West Bank since October 2023. Accountability for settlers who commit acts of violence against Palestinians is rare. According to activists from the village of Umm al-Khair in the West Bank, where the shooting took place, the killing happened after a settler in a bulldozer drove through their land, destroying trees and property. When a resident approached to ask the driver of the bulldozer to stop, the driver knocked him down with the blade of the bulldozer. Residents began to throw stones, and Levi allegedly emerged from the settlement and began firing. Hathaleen, who was standing a distance away from the confrontation, was then struck by a bullet. 'My dear friend Awdah was slaughtered this evening,' Basel Adra, the Palestinian co-director of the No Other Land documentary wrote. 'He was standing in front of the community centre in his village when a settler fired a bullet that pierced his chest and took his life. This is how Israel erases us – one life at a time.' Activists shared the last message Hathaleen sent before being killed, in which he urged people to act to stop settler encroachment on Umm al-Khair. 'The settlers are working behind our houses and … they tried to cut the main water pipe for the community … If you can reach people like the Congress, courts, whatever, please do everything,' Hathaleen wrote. Yuval Abraham, the Israeli co-director of the film about the Israeli efforts to remove Palestinians from their homes in Masafer Yatta, shared video on social media of the settler shooting during the attack on the village. The Palestinian Authority's education ministry accused Israeli settlers in the West Bank of killing the activist, writing on social media that Awdah Hathaleen 'was shot dead by settlers ... during their attack on the village of Umm al-Khair' near Hebron, in the south of the occupied territory. The Israeli military acknowledged the incident, and said an armed 'Israeli civilian' opened fire at a group of people hurling rocks. The Israeli police said they arrested one Israeli citizen for questioning and that they were investigating the incident, while the military arrested seven people from Umm al-Khair, including two international solidarity activists. 'Following the incident, the death of a Palestinian was confirmed,' the police added. Settlers said they would demonstrate outside the Jerusalem courthouse where Levi was taken for questioning, saying he was 'standing at the forefront' for them. Hathaleen was a resident of Masafer Yatta, a string of hamlets located on the hills south of Hebron, which have been declared a military zone by Israel. The efforts to prevent Israeli forces from destroying their homes was the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary. Last month, Hathaleen and his cousin Eid al-Hathaleen, an artist and community leader, were denied entry to the US at San Francisco international airport, after their visas were revoked on arrival for a series of planned talks sponsored by faith groups. The San Francisco supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who protested against the decision to revoke the visas of the two men and deport them, wrote in a statement on X on Monday: 'Just a few weeks ago, Awdah attempted to come to San Francisco to build bridges between cultures – to share a message of peace. He had come to raise summer camp funds to help give Palestinian children experiencing the unthinkable a semblance of a childhood back home. Instead, he was denied entry at SFO.' 'This is an absolute tragedy, and must be condemned,' Mahmood added. Trump removed the sanctions Biden imposed on Levi and more than a dozen other extremist settlers and organisations that terrorise Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on his first day in office in January. Levi is under both EU and UK sanctions. Hathaleen also documented the campaign of forced expulsions and demolitions for the Israeli-Palestinian magazine +972. Last week, in a report headlined 'In Umm al-Khair, the occupation is damning us to multigenerational trauma', he wrote: 'The demolition forces enter the village. All the children run to their mothers, who scramble to salvage whatever they can from their homes before it's too late. Everyone watches on anxiously to see who will be made homeless today. The bulldozers gather in the centre of the village and then stop. Soldiers disembark. The villagers look each other in the eye, searching for words of comfort, but there are none. Our children ask us why this is happening, but we have no answers.' AFP contributed to this report
