West Bank: illegal Israeli settlers destroy crops in Masafer Yatta

Members of Palestinian Masafer Yatta communities living in caves and makeshift buildings determined to remain in their land despite the Israeli court’s decision allowing the forced eviction, south of Hebron in West Bank on May 7, 2022. [Mamoun Wazwaz – Anadolu Agency]

Illegal Israeli settlers destroyed crops in the Masafer Yatta area to the south of Hebron on Sunday, when they let their livestock graze on fields belonging to Palestinian farmers, Safa has reported.

Local activist Fuad Al-Amour told the agency that a group of armed Jewish settlers, protected by the Israeli army, raided fields belonging to Palestinian farmers and released their livestock, causing severe damage to crops. A fence owned by two Palestinians identified as Shehadeh Makhamreh and Farid Hamamdeh was also damaged.

The settlers also threw nails on the roads used by Palestinian civilians in the Israeli-occupied territory, causing traffic jams and forcing Palestinian drivers to take alternate routes.

Israel continues to impose restrictions against Palestinians and violate them and their property in Masafer Yatta, with the aim of forcing the indigenous people to leave their land in favour of settlement expansion.

All of Israel’s settlements in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem are illegal under international law, as are the Jewish settlers who live in them.

READ: Major NGO says Israeli measures in Masafer Yatta may be war crimes

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