Settlers begin infrastructure work at outpost east of Bethlehem

Israeli settlers have begun infrastructure work at an outpost established near the village of Al-Maniya, southeast of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, according to a local Palestinian official, Anadolu reports.

Ahmed Kawazba, head of the Al-Maniya village council, said on Sunday that work was progressing rapidly at the outpost in the Al-Qarn area, east of the village.

Kawazba said land had been bulldozed and alleged that the infrastructure work was intended to facilitate the expansion of the outpost and eventually turn it into a permanent settlement.

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He also reported continuing settler attacks and harassment targeting Al-Maniya residents, including damage to homes and vehicles, attempted livestock theft and nighttime harassment.

According to the Palestinian Authority’s Commission Against the Wall and Settlements, Israeli forces and settlers carried out 2,256 attacks against Palestinians, their land and property across the West Bank during July.

The commission attributed 1,458 incidents to Israeli forces and 798 to settlers.

The West Bank has seen increased Israeli military raids, arrests and settler violence since the start of Israel’s genocide in Gaza in October 2023, according to Palestinian officials and international monitoring organisations.

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