Israeli army plans to resettle 1,000 Palestinians without government knowledge
Ramallah: Israeli armed forces officials are planning to forcibly relocate some 1,000 Palestinians from the villages of Masafar Yatta, near southern Hebron in the southern West Bank, without the Israeli government’s knowledge.
The sources said the army’s Central District Command had begun preparations to relocate the residents in November so that the army could conduct regular training exercises in the area.
The plan is said to have been presented to the government for the first time only last week, after the new administration took over, and the displacement of the residents is expected to happen this year. The Palestinian Authority was informed of the decision by officials of the Israeli Civil Administration overseeing civil affairs in the occupied territories during a meeting last week in the West Bank, the sources said.
Forced displacement of civilians from or within the Palestinian territories is prohibited under international humanitarian law.
Representatives of the Palestinian Authority have told people in Masafar Yatta that civil administration officials have informed them of plans to displace residents of 12 villages, an increase from the eight that were recently incorporated by the residents. Unsuccessful, petitioned the Supreme Court on the issue presented. Israeli Armed Forces officials propose that the residents of the villages be moved to two new sites in the area and choose one of them.
Israeli security and political sources have reportedly expressed concern about the behavior of military officers in the case, warning that it is a “warning sign” about future plans affecting Palestinians and the military’s ability to influence politicians. , far-right wingers and settlers who “pressurize senior officials and expect them to make decisions in line with their views, according to political and unprofessional considerations.”
Nidal Yunus, head of the Masafar Yatta village council, told Arab News that attacks on Palestinians by the Israeli army, police and settlers have increased since a ruling by the Israeli Supreme Court in May to displace eight communities, restricting the movement of residents. has increased dramatically. Other villages prevent non-residents from entering some villages, and confiscate agricultural machinery and vehicles. Meanwhile the settlers have invaded the Masafar Yatta residents, their livestock pastures, and prevented them from plowing their land and cultivating the crops used to feed their livestock.
Yunus said, “The goal of the increasing attacks against us is to make our lives difficult and impossible, and thus to push us and force us to leave our villages and our lands under their control.”
The villages of Masafar Yatta are spread over an area of approximately 13.5 square miles and include five schools and five medical centres. About 1,150 Palestinians from 215 families live there, including 569 children.
Residents rely on humanitarian aid due to the restrictive and discriminatory planning regime they face. Israeli authorities have issued demolition or “stop work” orders against most homes, animal shelters and community infrastructure in the village on the grounds that they were constructed without the necessary construction permits, which Palestinians have to obtain. Almost impossible. This has hindered the development of adequate housing, infrastructure and livelihoods.
In addition to the threat of their homes being demolished, the communities also face violence from nearby outpost settlers, who have blocked roads in the area, attacked farmers, and destroyed haystacks and pastures. has been set on fire. This has weakened the physical security of villagers, negatively impacted their mental and psycho-social health, reduced their quality of life and increased their dependence on humanitarian aid.
Livestock rearing provides the community’s primary source of income but access to grazing land has been reduced by military and settlement activity.
Yunus Arar, head of the international relations unit at the Settlement and Wall Resistance Commission, told Arab News that there is growing concern for the remaining villagers as Israeli authorities removed eight of the 12 communities from the villages of Masafar Yatta following the Supreme Court ruling. gave. last year – and especially since the new far-right Israeli government came to power in late December.
Arar said there has been an increase in the demolition of buildings and destruction of land in Masafar Yatta carried out by Israeli authorities over the past two weeks, and are planning protests in an effort to oppose the forced displacement of Palestinian residents.
Palestinian officials have expressed dismay at efforts by the international community to prevent the Israeli authorities from implementing their forced resettlement plans, particularly at the weakness of statements issued by the European Union and the United Nations, which go beyond expressing concern and did not include any moves to attempt to force Israeli officials to back down.
Humanitarian organizations and donors are providing assistance, including water and electricity, to meet the needs of the remaining communities in Masafar Yatta and help prevent forced displacement. However, Israeli authorities are reportedly hindering such efforts by issuing demolition or “stop work” orders, confiscating vehicles and equipment, restricting access to land, and preventing humanitarian workers from entering the area .
Schools in the area, built with support from international donors, face pending demolition orders, as do medical centres. Activists warn that forced evictions create many humanitarian needs that must be addressed to ensure people’s safety and access to essential services.