Palestinians in South Hebron Face Harassment and Displacement
Translated & summarized from Zman Yisrael by baba
A delegation of former Israeli security officials visited Palestinian villages in the South Hebron region to document alleged harassment and displacement by Israeli settlers. Residents reported being denied access to their land, facing violence, and having their homes and livestock destroyed. The article details specific incidents of alleged settler aggression and the impact of Israeli military designations on Palestinian livelihoods, with residents fearing further dispossession.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Palestinian residents in South Hebron are allegedly facing harassment and displacement by Israeli settlers.
- Settlers reportedly trespass on Palestinian property, declare areas closed military zones, and destroy livestock.
- Two Palestinian residents were allegedly killed in separate incidents involving Israeli settlers and police.
- A home in Tuba was allegedly set on fire by settlers, injuring a pregnant woman.
- Palestinians are reportedly forced to live in caves due to destroyed homes and restricted grazing areas.
- Former Israeli security officials visited the region to document these alleged abuses.
A delegation of former Israeli security and establishment officials, led by retired Major General Yaakov Orr, visited Palestinian communities in the South Hebron area, including Susya, Um al-Kheir, and Tuba, to witness the alleged mistreatment of local residents. The group observed Palestinians struggling to hold onto their land amidst the expansion of new outpost settlements, which they described as "strangling belts" around the villages. The article details incidents of violence and harassment allegedly perpetrated by Israeli settlers against the Palestinian inhabitants.
In Um al-Kheir, residents reported that their small courtyards were declared "closed military zones," preventing them from accessing essential areas like animal pens. One resident, referred to as 'S', stated his family needs permission from the IDF for brief access to feed his remaining three goats, down from two hundred. Settlers reportedly trespass on these "closed military zones," block access to facilities, and hold celebrations. The article also mentions the alleged killing of two Palestinian residents, Saliman al-Hadalin in 2022 by a truck in the service of the Israel Police, and Adida Muhammad Khalil al-Hadalin in 2025 by a resident of the Carmel settlement.
The delegation also visited Tuba, where a home was allegedly set ablaze by approximately forty settlers. A relative of the homeowner, referred to as 'E', described how organized groups of settlers infiltrated the area, stoned buildings, and set a living room on fire. The homeowner's wife, seven months pregnant at the time, was injured and had her arm broken while escaping the blaze. Residents of Tuba reported losing a significant portion of their livestock since the October 7th attacks, impacting their livelihood.
The article highlights the designation of large areas as "survey lands" or "firing zones," which restrict Palestinian grazing rights while allowing Jewish residents free movement. The author, Yossi Ben Ari, a retired Brigadier General and intelligence community veteran, draws parallels between the destruction of Palestinian homes and synagogues destroyed by Nazis during the Holocaust. The piece concludes with a visit to the ruins of Faqit Tahta, where residents are forced to live in caves due to the destruction of their homes and livestock pens, with settlers allegedly blocking cave entrances with rubble.