Palestinians protest as settler sets up new outpost in Hebron

Scores of Palestinians protested in the occupied West Bank yesterday after an illegal settler setup an outpost on private Palestinian agricultural land.

The settler took control of approximately 20 dunums of land in the town of Bani Na’im near Hebron a couple of weeks ago.

Speaking to the Anadolu Agency, the town’s Deputy Mayor Essam Mansara said: “The land belongs to the people of the town and they have official papers in their possession.”

He explained that the settler lives in a tent set up weeks ago, accompanied by a herd of sheep, protected by an Israeli military force.

Read: Israel approves construction of 261 settlement units in Hebron

Residents will continue their protests, Mansara said, in an effort to expel the settler before the area is made in to a new settlement and takes over hundreds of dunums of Palestinian land.

Israeli occupation forces declared the area a “closed military” zone and expelled protesters and the media, Anadolu  reported.

All settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are considered illegal under international law.