Israeli forces issue demolition order for sports stadium in Masafer Yatta

Israeli occupation forces have issued a demolition order for the Umm al-Khair stadium in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, following what local sources described as a campaign of settler incitement.

According to residents, the order was delivered on Tuesday for the sports field, which serves as a key recreational space for children in the village. The stadium was inaugurated around two years ago with foreign funding as part of projects aimed at supporting communities in Masafer Yatta.

The move comes amid efforts by the settlement organisation Regavim, which has claimed that the facility obstructs settlement expansion in the area. Local observers say the development signals further settlement-related plans affecting Masafer Yatta.

Human rights groups reported that in 2025 alone at least 22 settler attacks were recorded in Masafer Yatta, leaving 17 Palestinians injured, including six children. The incidents also involved damage to olive trees, vehicles and other agricultural property.

The United Nations has documented more than 1,700 settler attacks across the West Bank during 2025, with high concentrations in the Hebron, Nablus and Ramallah areas. Masafer Yatta has been among the most affected regions, as several of its rural communities face ongoing displacement pressures.

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