**On June, 2024:** Israeli forces demolished a large residential home in Jawaya. During the demolition, they also found an opportunity to beat some of the residents **On July 5, 2024** Footage shows Israeli settlers attacking a group of foreign peace activists visiting the Palestinian village of Al-Jawaya south of Al Khalil in the occupied West Bank. **On July 21, 2024** In the morning, a bulldozer working for settlers flattened land belonging to the village of Jawawiya. The work is taking place right next to the vast area already allocated to Yissakhar Man — at the expense of Jawawiya’s grazing lands — where a vineyard was planted over two years ago. As far as we know, the work is illegal even under Israeli law, and certainly under international law. **On Augustus 5, 2024** Destruction of a water cistern today in the village of Jawaya. At the height of summer, Israeli demolition forces arrived to destroy a cistern used by the residents of Jawaya, who cannot connect to a regular running water supply because the occupying forces refuse to allow them to develop an organized water system. **On Augustus 8, 2024** IDF demolition vehicles destroy a water well in the Wadi Al-Jawaya **On March 15, 2025** - Israeli settlers with ATV quad chased Palestinian shepherds in Jawaya village. - According to Waffa, Israeli sttlers, under the protection of Israeli military forces, attacked shepherds in the Masafer Yatta region, south of Hebron, forcing them at gunpoint to leave their lands. - Osama Makhamreh, an anti-settlement activist, told WAFA that settlers assaulted the family of Ahmad Barghash al-Shawahin while they were herding their livestock in Wadi al-Jawaya. The settlers chased them and forced them, under threat of weapons, to abandon their land. - According to Osama Makhamreh, heavily armed settlers also stormed Khirbet al-Tuba, terrifying children and women.

### Rotem (Hebrew: רותם) is an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. Located in the northern Jordan River Valley along the Allon Road south-west of Shadmot Mehola, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council.In 2022 it had a population of 275. The international community considers Israeli settlements to be illegal under international law. ### Tene Yarok Farm of Didi Amosi (father of Gilad Amosi) About a decade ago, Didi Amosi established the Tene Yarok farm near the settlement of Rotem in the Jordan Valley. In recent years, residents of Palestinian communities from the area have testified about the harassment and expulsion of their herds by settlers who came from the direction of the outpost. Didi Amosi, who was also the security officer of the Rotem settlement, was reprimanded a few years ago for attacking an activist from the Jordan Valley activists group who accompany Palestinian shepherds who are suffering from bullying and harassment by settlers and the authorities. Last December, a settler who came from the direction of the outpost attacked two activists near the Farisiyah Palestinian community, and they needed hospital treatment. Recently, a Palestinian family from the Farisiyah community, near which the outpost was established, was forced to leave their homes. In this video, Didi is seen driving into a herd of sheep and then attacking an activist and throwing his phone. ### Chronology of the expansion of Rottem Settlement violence **In 2016,** Israel has announced a new master plan for expanding the Rotem colony in the northern Palestinian Jordan Valley, seizing 1,574.3 dunums of Palestinian land that was originally confiscated in 1980 for "military purposes." The plan includes residential expansion, tourism, agricultural and industrial facilities, and public spaces. Rotem, initially a military base, later became an agricultural settlement and continues to receive significant state support, while Palestinians in the area face severe restrictions. The expansion violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions and international law, which prohibit Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories. **On February 20217** Israeli settlers from Rotem colony have begun establishing a new outpost to the west of Rotem, in the Palestinian area of Wad Al-Malih, Tubas governorate. The settlers have set up two caravans as the initial step in taking over more Palestinian land. This expansion violates Palestinian land rights and threatens further land confiscation. The Israeli government's support for such outposts, through proposed legalization bills, accelerates the process of settlement expansion. This is part of a broader pattern of Israeli colonization in the West Bank, which contravenes multiple UN Security Council resolutions and international law prohibiting settlements in occupied territories. **On April 19, 2022** Israeli settlers installed two caravans in the Ihmayyer area, part of Palestinian land belonging to the Al Farsiya community. This marks the beginning of a potential new settlement, a process that has been repeated in nearby areas, like Maskiyyot. Over time, such settlements grow, leading to the construction of permanent housing, roads, and other infrastructure, all supported and protected by the Israeli military. This expansion is part of a broader policy of land confiscation and ethnic cleansing aimed at displacing Palestinian communities from the Jordan Valley. On the same day, Israel's National Nature Assessment Program declared the nearby Ein El-Hilwe area a nature reserve, renaming it after Israeli colonies and erasing the Palestinian presence. This follows a history of restricting Palestinian access to the land, which had previously been declared a closed military zone. The community is concerned that the installation of the nature reserve sign is the first step in further restricting their access and control over the land. **On March 2024** Luai Abu Muhsen, a 42-year-old resident of al-Farisiyah, describes the ongoing harassment and violence his family faces from Israeli settlers in the area, especially over the past two years. They are frequently blocked from accessing pasture, beaten, and their tractor has been confiscated twice. On December 17, 2023, while tending to their sheep, settlers in a pickup truck deliberately ran over two sheep and attacked Luai's brother, Barakat, with a sharp object, causing a deep wound. Despite calling for help, the Israeli police and army arrived but did nothing, demonstrating their collaboration with the settlers. Luai expresses frustration, noting that settlers have fenced off their land, making it harder to sustain their livestock. The settlers have become dominant in the Jordan Valley, and the Abu Muhsen family feels unsupported by authorities. Other families have been forced to leave due to threats and violence, and Luai highlights the lack of action from the Israeli authorities. Recently, Israeli activists have been staying in the community to offer protection, but the settlers’ violence continues, including destroying tents and intimidating those who attempt to support the Palestinian community. **On Augustus 21, 2024** The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has reported that recent settler violence in the occupied West Bank has led to the "largest forcible transfer" of Palestinians since October 7.Three Palestinian communities, totaling 119 individuals, have been displaced in the last ten days due to attacks by illegal settlers who established new outposts and blocked access to water. Two communities, *Al-Farsiya Khallet Khader* and *Al-Farisiya al-Zu’bi*, have been completely abandoned, while only one family remains in *Ein al-Hilweh – Um al-Jmal*. The NRC holds Israel responsible as the occupying power for the actions of the settlers, emphasizing that these actions are a grave violation of international law. The violence has displaced or put at risk the remaining 18 communities in the Al-Maleh region, causing significant damage to Palestinian livelihoods and violating their rights. The NRC also highlighted that humanitarian aid worth nearly a quarter of a million euros has been affected or destroyed by settlers. The organization has called for Israel to shut down illegal settler outposts, investigate settler attacks, and hold perpetrators accountable. Additionally, reports revealed that illegal settlers have intentionally started 273 fires on Palestinian land since October 7, contributing to further violence and displacement. **On March 2, 2025** Israeli settlers released their livestock into the rain-fed crops of Palestinian farmers in Khirbet al-Farsiya village, located in the northern Jordan Valley, region, northeast of the occupied West Bank. They grazed their sheep in the Palestinian agricultural fields, causing significant damage to the crops. Settler routinely allow their livestock to graze in Palestinian farmland, leading to considerable losses. Annually, they destroy hundreds of dunums of agricultural land in the northern Jordan Valley, in addition to blocking Palestinian farmers from grazing their livestock, raiding their homes, intimidating families, and attempting to steal livestock. **On March 26:** - Three settlers, led by Gilad Amosi, invaded the Palestinian village of al-Farsiya at 01.00 A.M., one of them drove around on an ATV, shouting at residents and human rights activists. Then the settlers set up camp on the hill 50 meters away from the village. - The activists confronted the settlers, who called Israeli police. The police arrived, questioned the activists, got their ID numbers and left. For the next 2.5 hours the settlers sat on the hill and the activists monitored them from the village. - At 03.30 A.M. one of the settlers, armed with an M16 assault rifle, invaded the village once again. When he was confronted by the activists and residents, he started pushing them, and then hit three people with the barrel of his gun. All three sustained minor injuries. The settler then cocked his gun and pointed it at the activists and residents, including children. After being further confronted and filmed by the activists, he retreated back to the hill. - At 06.00 A.M. Israeli Occupation soldiers invaded the village together with the police. They once again pointed weapons at the human rights activists, threatened and pushed them. Israeli police arrested one of the activists. - This is part of an escalating campaign of ethnic cleansing of the Jordan Valley. Almost daily, the Palestinian village of al-Farsiya is being targeted by settler terror, spearheaded by settler leader Didi Amosi (see picture, left), and the security coordinator of the settlement Rotem Daniel Ran (see picture, right). Several Palestinian communities in the area have already been expelled, and without urgent intervention, the same will happen to al-Farsiya.

This village in Masafer Yatta area was regularly harass by violent settlers in order to steal their land. The police's deliberate daily disregard for these crimes enables and legitimizes future attacks. The apartheid regime's unwillingness to enforce the law on settlers serves as an incentive for their acts of terror. ## Chronology : **2020** **On April 21, 2020**, Jabarin Abu ‘Aram, a 56-year-old father of nine, was grazing his flock near Qawawis when two settlers from the Mitzpe Yair outpost approached him. One pepper-sprayed him, and both threw stones at him, stealing two of his goats. Abu ‘Aram’s wife intervened, but the settlers fled with the goats. Despite reporting the incident and providing evidence to the police, no action was taken, and the goats were never returned. Abu ‘Aram expressed frustration at the lack of protection, noting that settlers operate with impunity, leaving his family in fear of constant attacks. The outpost of Mitzpe Yair, established in 1998, has a history of encroaching on Palestinian lands near Route 317. [source](https://www.btselem.org/node/212932) **2024** **On Sunday, March 17,** Jibril Nu’man, 59, was grazing his flock on his private land near Qawawis when a settler soldier ordered him to leave. After refusing, Nu’man and another shepherd, Taleb Nu’man, were handcuffed, detained for five hours without food during Ramadan, and taken to a military camp before being released later that evening. **On Saturday, March 23,** Jibril Nu’man was again grazing his flock, this time with three Israeli activists, when a settler arrived, followed by two masked soldiers. One soldier threatened Nu’man with a gun, argued over the land’s ownership, and forced him to hand over his ID. After further confrontation, the soldiers tied and blindfolded Nu’man, beat him, and took him to a nearby camp, where he was detained for several hours without food, water, or the ability to pray. He was eventually dropped off far from his village. In a testimony he gave [B'tselem](https://www.btselem.org/video/20240522_soldiers_assaulted_shepherds_in_qawawis_in_south_hebron_hills#full) field researcher Basel al-Adrah on 23 March 2024, Jibril Nu’man recounted his detention by soldiers, some of whom he recognized as settlers **On May 15,** Jibrin Abu Aram was arrested for the fourth time in recent months while on his private land by the soldiers-settlers from the Mitzpe Yair outpost, which has been attempting to seize Qawawis' land for years. The stated reason was his presence near an illegal road built by settlers on Palestinian land. Even under apartheid laws, Palestinians are allowed near the road, but colonial practices disregard such laws. **2025** **On January 2:** When settlers attacked Jibrin Abu Aram's neighbor the day before, the army and police refused to intervene, highlighting their role in perpetuating abuse against Palestinians to force them off their land. Settlers infiltrated the village of Qawawis late at night and attacked Khaled Al-Najjar brutally. This is not the first time that Najjar has been injured in a settler attack; in 2001, he was seriously wounded when a settler shot him in the stomach. Yesterday, solidarity activists and residents of Qawawis tried several times to speak with the police and urged them to expel the settlers who invade the village lands and destroy fruit trees with their herds, but the police merely ask the settler to move. Five minutes later, as he goes deeper into the Palestinian orchards with his herd, they refuse to send the police back to the scene  **On April 20:** According to masafering, On the moning, three residents of the village of Gwawis went out to harvest barley on their land, near the ruins of Jibrin's house. A uniformed man riding an ATV arrived at the scene, forced them to stop working, and ordered them to sit on the ground in the scorching sun. More soldiers soon arrived and held the landowners for an hour, without providing any explanation. This is a systematic practice of harassment and intimidation as part of the attempt to uproot Palestinian communities from their land: farmers are exhausted with baseless delays every time they work their land, until they stop working it, which makes it legally easier to expropriate it and in practice easier for settlers to do with it as they please.

On November 11, 2024, in Al-Ara’ara Bedouin community, near Jaba, east of occupied Jerusalem, Israeli bulldozers, under occupation forces, demolished several structures in the Bedouin Al-Ara’ara community, including an abandoned House (unoccupied since the 1960s), a guesthouse, a house used by women and children, five Sheep Pens, a car repair shop, a mosque. Israeli forces marked additional structures with red paint, indicating potential for further demolitions. **Community Impact:** The Al-Ara’ara community includes over 80 families from the Jahalin Bedouin tribe. **Broader Context:** These demolitions are occurring alongside significant expansion of the Israeli Adam settlement, which is encroaching on lands belonging to the town of Jaba. Sources [1](https://english.palinfo.com/news/2024/11/11/328594/) [2](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/151545) [3](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20241112-israel-demolishes-mosque-home-east-of-jerusalem/)

**Human Shields**: *The use of civilians to protect combatants or military objectives from attack. This practice is explicitly prohibited under international humanitarian law (IHL) as per the Fourth Geneva Convention.* ## Use of Human Shields in Israeli Military Practices Depending on whether the IDF is in Gaza or the West Bank, the methods used differ ### **A. The “Mosquito Protocol” (2024)** A term reportedly used by the IDF to describe the practice of sending Palestinian detainees into potentially dangerous situations to safeguard soldiers during military operations. Palestinian civilians are arrested, detained and allegedly used as “human shields” by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to search tunnels and inspect potentially booby-trapped locations during the Israeli ground invasion in Gaza. Civilians referred to as "shawishim," are sent into high-risk areas before IDF soldiers. These Operations are conducted in various parts of the Gaza Strip, including Rafah. IDF soldiers arrest Palestinian civilians, some as young as 16 and others elderly, are dressed in IDF uniforms, bound, and equipped with cameras to explore dangerous areas. **Recent investigations and developments (2024)** ~ July and February 2024: Reports emerged of Palestinians being coerced into entering booby-trapped buildings or tunnels in Gaza. ~ August 13, 2024 (Haaretz): Allegations from soldiers, commanders, and Palestinian detainees revealed that civilians, including minors, were used to inspect hazardous tunnels and buildings.[Israeli leftist newspaper "Haaretz" Investigation](https://archive.md/BKrxB) *IDF Allegedly Uses Palestinian Civilians as Human Shields in Gaza Operations* by the Reporters: Yaniv Kubovich, Michael Hauser Tov on August 13, 2024. ~ October 21, 2024 (The Guardian): Whistleblower testimonies and reports highlighted systematic practices in Gaza, including tying civilians, forcing them to wear IDF uniforms, and using them for reconnaissance or shield tasks. ~ October 24, 2024 (CNN): The "Mosquito Protocol" involved forcing Palestinian detainees to enter danger zones. Reports included physical abuse and coercion, with some detainees subjected to beatings or threats. **Key Practices and Allegations:** ~ IDF soldiers abduct Palestinians included minors, elderly individuals, and detainees? in order to force them to: ~ Enter buildings and tunnels to check for explosives or in Gaza Strip, including Rafah, Khan Younis, Shuja’iya, and Jabaliya. ~ Perform reconnaissance and operate cameras. ~ Serve as shields during gunfire or door-knocking procedures. Soldiers and officers allegedly received orders to implement these tactics, with some expressing moral opposition. Civilians were often handcuffed, blindfolded, or dressed in IDF uniforms. IDF units use coercion involved physical abuse, threats, and psychological pressure. Some soldiers expressed moral opposition, describing the practice as mimicking tactics of organizations like Hamas. **The Military Justifications** is the safety of Soldiers (Commanders prioritized minimizing risks to Israeli troops, even at the expense of Palestinian civilians) and the Operational Efficiency (Familiarity with local areas made Palestinian civilians useful for identifying threats or navigating buildings). **Evidence Supporting Allegations** Palestinian detainees and IDF soldiers provided consistent accounts of coercion and abuse. Photographs and Video Footage showed bound civilians being guarded by IDF soldiers. Reports of civilians dressed in military gear with attached cameras for reconnaissance. Human Rights Documentation: Organizations like Breaking the Silence, Middle East Human Right Monitor, .. highlighted the systematic nature of these practices. The investigation includes first-hand soldier testimonies, video footage aired on Al Jazeera, and reports of systematic practices. Despite the IDF’s official denial, which states that such actions are against military regulations, these findings raise significant concerns about violations of humanitarian and legal standards. **Soldier Concerns:** Testimonies from DIF soldiers and commanders indicate ethical or legal discomfort with the practice, which some soldiers equate to endangering civilians for military advantage. They confronted their commanders about International laws but the answer was the following : *"It is better that they explode and not the IDF soldiers"* because their live is less important than IDF lives. In one reported case, a 16 y/O Palestinian was kept for several days, given combat rations, and used as humand shield by soldiers to explore a house. He was later released near a checkpoint confirming for the IDF whitnesses htat he was not involved in terrorism but just a civilian. **Leadership Knowledge and Military Responses:** Allegations that senior officials, including IDF Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi and Southern Command Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, were aware of the practice. **US Reaction:** U.S. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel expressed outrage, stating that the IDF’s actions in the footage “do not reflect IDF values” and are under investigation. ### B. Neighbor Procedure/Early Warning Procedure: A specific tactic used by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), primarily in the **West Bank**, where civilians (often neighbors) are asked to communicate with suspects or perform tasks such as clearing buildings. **Israeli Military Justifications** ~ The military argues that the practice reduces casualties on both sides by avoiding direct confrontations. ~ The IDF pretend civilians are not coerced and face little to no danger, as evidenced by the provision of protective measures like bulletproof vests. ~ Local civilians are believed to be better suited to communicate with suspects and navigate complex environments. ~ The presence of civilians supposedly reduces hostility from suspects, facilitating safer surrenders. **Criticism and Legal Challenges** The practice breaches the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits forcing protected persons to assist an occupying force. The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit denies approving civilian use in dangerous military operations and claims the reported incidents are under review. The continuation of the practice after HCJ rulings indicates weak enforcement of judicial decisions within the military.Israel faces backlash for the practice, which undermines its international standing and raises questions about its adherence to IHL.Despite legal bans, reports of continued use highlight a lack of accountability within the IDF. Few soldiers are prosecuted, and penalties remain minimal. Disproportionate Risks & ethical concern: The procedure shifts the burden of danger from soldiers to civilians, violating the principle of proportionality under IHL.The procedure exposes civilians to potential harm, even when “voluntary,” and undermines the principle of distinction in IHL.Both victims and soldiers involved in these operations experience long-term trauma. The use of human shields continues to be condemned by international organizations like Btselem and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). **Documented Cases and Patterns** Testimonies reveal that even minors and women were coerced or threatened into participating.Despite the 2005 HCJ ruling, instances of human shield usage have been reported in subsequent military operations. Case of Bilal (Testimony): A child was sent into a house to check for a suspect, showcasing the direct harm and coercion involved. Consequences ## Chronology of events ### Since October 2023 Gaza Israeli soldier Yosef Scewekeh from the steel cat combat engineering corps showing how they use Palestinian civilians as human shields in Gaza  10 Nov 2023: [A video shows](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231110-israeli-army-in-west-bank-uses-palestinian-detainee-as-human-shield/) Israeli soldiers using a blindfolded Palestinian detainee as a human shield in the West Bank. He is seated on the ground w/ vehicles behind him using him as a shield as an Israeli soldier aim his rifle towards Palestinians May 2024: On May 24, Lt. Amit Nechmya, the Latak platoon commander is seen ordering an elderly man with a partially covered face to move to an unknown location in Rafah. The video was recorded by Sgt Camisa. On October 2024 “Really a nice ending”,This is what Mujinda wrote, commenting on the kidnapping of Palestinians in the West Bank.  ### Before October 2023 **May 2023:** Israeli soldiers forced Nidal, 9, Karam, 11, Ahmad, 2 & Mohammad, 2 to stand in front of Israeli military vehicles while Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters, stun grenades & live ammunition at Palestinians confronting the soldiers in Ramallah dci-palestine.org/israeli_forces… Israeli forces have used at least five Palestinian children [as human shields](https://www.dci-palestine.org/israeli_forces_use_five_palestinian_children_as_human_shields) in the first part of 2023, according to documentation collected by DCIP. **March 2023:** Anas al-Khalili from Nablus. “I was used as a human shield by Israeli forces. They handcuffed me & started shooting from behind me. While I was handcuffed, they pushed me down the stairs, they stayed behind me & were shooting at the men… **9 March 2018** Israel soldiers detained ‘Abd a-Rahim Gheith in Jericho & ordered him out the car, handcuffed him & made him sit on the road for 2hrs. Gheith was then used as a human shied, & was hit by stones thrown at the soldiers. Video evidence: **2014 (Operation Protective Edge):** Documented cases of Palestinians being used as human shields despite the HCJ's ban. **July-Aug 2014:** “Israeli soldiers handcuffed & blindfolded us...they made us stand by the windows as protective shields for them. There was gunfire all around us. They made us stand by the window for 9 hours. We were their shields.” - Ramadan Qudeih **July-August 2014:** “They refused to let us out….I asked for am ambulance for my sister, who fainted, they refused. They held us to protect themselves. -Nazeeha al-Najjar (7:30) **July-August 2014:** "I was taken prisoner, handcuffed & walked almost at gun point…he made me walk forward and he was protected by me…if any shots had been fired, they’d have hit me. He [the israeli soldier] was right behind me. **2010-2013:** "The Committee on the Rights of the Child express deep concern about the continuous use of Palestinian children as human shields and informants. 14 such cases have been reported from January 2010 to 31 March 2013 only." **2008-2009:** The Goldstone Report documented many cases in which the Israeli military used Palestinians as human shields in the 2008-9 war on Gaza, including Majdi Abd Rabbo, Abbas Ahmad Ibrahim Halawa, Mahmoud Abd Rabbo al-Ajrami and others. See p. 218-230 documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/… **February 2009:** “the officers said I wouldn’t see my family unless i did it…he pushed me w/his weapon, held me by my neck & said go." -Magdy Rabbo. [He had to go back & forth between Israeli soldiers & hamas fighers]. The IDF used Magdy as a human shied. **February 2009:** “The Israelis would send us ahead...they made me dig holes in the wall & in the houses first to check in case they were booby trapped. We were put in front so in case there was gunfire, we would be [hit].” -Rabbi Abde Rabi, Gaza resident. 2008-2009 (Operation Cast Lead) & 2014 (Operation Protective Edge): Documented cases of Palestinians being used as human shields despite the HCJ's ban. **2005:** The HCJ fully outlaws the use of civilians in military operations, ruling it as a violation of IHL. Despite this, incidents of the practice persist. **November 2002:** The HCJ temporarily bans the use of civilians as human shields but allows the procedure under specific conditions, such as explicit consent and minimal danger. **In 2002**, 2002: During the Second Intifada, the "Neighbor Procedure" results in the death of a Palestinian civilian, leading to petitions by human rights organizations to Israel’s High Court of Justice (HCJ). IDF forced Palestinians to walk through buildings suspected to be booby-trapped. it ordered them to enter certain areas before the combat forces...the army used residents as a “human shield” to serve as a shield against attack on those forces (p.230) documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/… **May 2001:** the Israeli army took over Hussein Aladi’s home, established an Israeli military base on the roof. For 3 months, they fired every day from there. The army insisted family always remain in the house, to protect the Israeli soldiers in it. **1967:** Start of Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. The use of Palestinian civilians as human shields during military operations becomes an observed practice. Sources : [ICRC](https://international-review.icrc.org/sites/default/files/irrc_856_2.pdf) [2023 Jcobin](https://jacobin.com/2023/11/human-shields-bombing-gaza-palestine-israel-defense-forces-morally-bankrupt) [jpost](https://www.jpost.com/israel/archive-idf-neighbor-procedure-safe) [Breaking the silence](https://www.breakingthesilence.org.il/testimonies/database/366029) [B'tselem](https://www.btselem.org/human_shields [Cases documented by Btselem :](https://www.btselem.org/ota/104/all) [2024 : 24/10 “Mosquito Protocol” :](https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/24/middleeast/palestinians-human-shields-israel-military-gaza-intl/index.html) [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/21/palestinians-describe-being-used-as-human-shields-by-israeli-troops-in-gaza) [Haaretz, on Augustus 13, 2024 :](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-08-13/ty-article-magazine/.premium/idf-uses-gazan-civilians-as-human-shields-to-inspect-potentially-booby-trapped-tunnels/00000191-4c84-d7fd-a7f5-7db6b99e0000)

Umm al-Khair is a Palestinian village located in the Hebron Governorate of the State of Palestine, in the southern West Bank. It was inhabited by five families, roughly 70 people, in 2008. By 2017, the population of the village was 686. The Palestinian village of Umm Al-Khair, is located in the Masafer Yatta region and Area C of the Occupied West Bank, which is under full Israeli civil and military control. The residents of Umm Al-Khair are a model of resilience in the face of occupation and ethnic cleansing. Their ancestors were expelled from their homes in what is now Israel in 1948 before purchasing the land of their current village. The village is comprised of Bedouin refugees who were expelled from the Negev after 1948 & purchased the land from residents of Yatta. In 1980, parts of their land were seized for ‘security' purposes, which soon turned out to be the establishment of the Carmel settlement. For several years, Umm Al-Khair has been under constant threat of demolition and expulsion as the State of Israel seeks to confine Area C Palestinians into ever smaller areas. The residents of the settlement--just a 2 minute walk away--live in swanky modern homes with government-supplied electricity and running water; Umm Al-Khair residents lack permits to build a sufficient number of permanent structures, regularly purchase overpriced tanks for their water, and rely on donated solar panels for limited electricity. The stark contrast between the settlement and Umm Al-Khair is one of the clearest views of Israel's apartheid system. Since October 7, the situation in Umm Al-Khair has become worse than residents can ever remember, and the village's neediest families, all of whom have lost their sources of income due to Israeli travel restrictions and settler violence, urgently need our support. The harassement and the raids come not random by trespassers — they are settlers, including brainwashed teenagers, from illegal outposts such as Khavat Shoroshim (run by the extremist Shimon Attia) and Mashek Manne (run by the extremist Isachar Manne, who has been under sanctions). **Chronology (ongoing)** **On June 26, 2024** Civil Administration personnel came with military and Border Police escort and three diggers. They demolished the homes of two families, leaving 24 Palestinians, 15 of them minors, homeless. **On June 27, 2024** In the morning the Israeli army raided the village of Umm Al-Khair and destroyed at least 11 homes and structures in the village, including its community tent. 40 people in the village were now newly homeless. **On June 29, 2024 ** 3 settler youths from the nearby violent outpost of Shorashim Farm (founded by Shimon Attia) entered a house, pushed the residents, and pepper sprayed a youth. They called Shimon who arrived with the army and settler security. **July 1st, 2024** 2 settlers from Shorashim Farm took their sheep into the village & mixed them up with the village flocks. Shimon arrived with another settler youth & attacked a resident with a rod while the youth pepper sprayed a group of women. A 5 yr-old girl was also injured. in all the commotion, Shimon fired shots into the air. An ambulance came for the wounded residents but Shimon attempted to block it, claiming that the wounded had attacked him. **July 2, 2024** Shimon arrived to the area of the village, accompanied by a military jeep & security vehicle, and set up a tent. The police told the residents that Shimon was allowed to be there because it was ‘state land’ & that he was permitted to build the tent.Later on, more & more settlers arrived. Guarded by soldiers, they held a prayer service by the village. As the settlers packed up, they threatened to return and rebuild the tent deeper inside the village. As they left, the settlers cut multiple holes through the village’s water pipes. **On July 3, 2024** (Report from the activist Elisheva Goldberg) On Wednesday, the Israeli army and settler security forces demolished about a quarter of Umm al-Khair, without prior warning. Some homes had demolition orders pending for 18 years. Eid Al Hathaleen, his wife, and four daughters lost their home and were left homeless with no time to appeal or remove belongings. Eid has since been sleeping on the rubble. *In the days that followed (Between July 3 and 6)* Settlers from the illegal Shorashim farm, led by Shimon Attia and accompanied by men in IDF uniforms, entered the village multiple times, firing live ammunition and tear gas. Injuries Reported: - A 5-year-old girl was injured. - One man was shot. - Two elderly women were hospitalized due to tear gas exposure. Evidence of settlement expansion was visible throughout the village. Settlers even pitched a tent and prayed inside the village, and blocked access roads to prevent aid from reaching residents. The settlers cut off the village's water supply, leaving 250 residents without water for drinking, cooking, or bathing—during extreme summer heat. The combined actions of settlers and the military appear aimed at making life unlivable for Palestinians in Umm al-Khair, effectively pushing them off their land. **On July 5, 2024** The Israeli army, accompanied by settler security, completely unannounced, demolished nearly a quarter of the village. Buildings that have had demolition orders for 18 years. One of the homes was the house of Eid Al Hathaleen. **On July 26, 2024** The Israeli army raided the village of Umm Al-Khair and destroyed at least 11 homes and structures in the village, including its community tent. 40 people in the village are now newly homeless and the need is greater than ever; At the end of the same month, a fundraiser allowed quickly to raise enough monney to help to rebuilt their community. **On October 26, 2024** Settlers, led by Shimon Atiya and escorted by Israeli soldiers, invaded the village with a herd, grazing between homes. A U.S. solidarity activist documenting the event was arrested by Israeli police. **On February 2** Residents of Umm al-Khair woke to settlers using heavy tools to drill and measure land near their homes, claiming ownership. Villagers were powerless to intervene. The operation was led by Issachar Man from the Masek Man outpost and Shimon Atiya from the Havat Shorashim outpost, accompanied by others known for violence. A video of the land seizure was shamelessly posted on the Mount Hebron Council’s Facebook page, suggesting settler actions are not just tolerated but openly supported. **On February 4** Settlers from the 'Carmel' outpost are trying to seize land in Umm al-Khair by planting an olive groves **On February 14, 2025** For Tu BiShvat holiday, settlers find the opportunity to steal from the Palestinians. Dozens of settlers gathered inside the village and began planting trees and placing the flags Israel. This is a new step of establishing and outpost inside the Um al-Khair village with the protection of the Israeli authorities. **On April 7, 2025** Israeli settlers have begun placing caravans just meters from residents' homes, according to the Al-Baydar Organization. One was parked inside Umm al-Khair, where settlers had recently planted trees and raised an Israeli flag. Dozens of settlers, led by Shimon Atiya, attacked the village, attempting to breach the fence and assaulting residents with clubs. At least three people — including a child and a young adult — were injured and taken to the hospital. Later, under army protection, Shimon Attia was seen cutting a fence inside the village. **On April 15, 2025** Settler-shepherds grazerd their flocks right in the heart of the village under the protection — and false legal cover — of the Israeli occupation forces and police. They come from illegal outposts such as Khavat Shoroshim and Mashek Manne. They traveled many kilometers from different directions to invade the community and disrupt the lives, and spread terror. A resident testified *"What makes this even more painful is that they are grazing their flocks on our privately farmed land, where we have planted barley after months of hard work and with large financial investment. These crops are essential — not just for feeding our families, but for keeping our livestock alive. While we are forbidden from grazing even a few meters outside our village, they roam freely and destroy everything we’ve worked for. Many of us depend on this land to survive, and now it is being trampled and devoured in front of our eyes. This is not just provocation — it is part of a deliberate campaign to pressure us into leaving our homes. It’s a clear example of the settlers’ strategy of slow, methodical displacement."*

Ras Al-Ein Al-Auja, is a farmer communities in the south of the Jordan Valley, in the eastern West Bank, located ten kilometers north of Jericho. Al-Auja (Arabic: العوجا) is the nearest Palestinian town in the Jericho Governorate of the State of Palestine. Agricultural land makes up over 10% of the town's area, mostly planted with bananas, oranges, and vegetables for which al-Auja is well known. Irrigation water is mainly supplied from the al-Auja spring and this is regularly attacked by Israeli Stellers in order to harass the Bedouin communities. Israeli soldiers support the settlers and allow impunity escalating the water apartheid. Ein al-Auja has been subject to frequent attacks by Israeli settlers, who have established several colonial outposts in the surrounding area over the past few years, in an attempt to take control of the land and water resources of the area and prevent local Palestinians’ access. Several Activist groups record and support the local communities : Mistaclim, Standing Together. On January 28, 2024, the Jewish-Arab solidarity guard (Standing Together) in northern Israel organized a [meeting](https://x.com/omdimbeyachad/status/1751611899874021769)between Palestinians and Jews in the Ras al-Ein village, where participants discussed life over the past few months and how to build strong networks of solidarity between Palestinians and Jews in the north. ### On February 4, 2024 On the holy Shabbos and with white shirts, armed settlers, invading the barn with the aim of stealing and looting the sheep of the Palestinian shepherds community. With the knowledge and under the auspices of the security forces who were informed, but did not prevent. Settlers terror is a daily reality. ### On June 22, 2024 In Ras al-Ain, Israeli settlers and soldiers fired weapons, stole livestock, and carried out arbitrary arrests ### On July 16, 2024 Settler Drone Terror in Ras al-Ain : A settler drone crashed over Ras al-Ain, prompting armed forces to invade, harass, and intimidate residents late into the night. Settlers, with military backing, act above the law—recently stealing livestock under their protection. ### On Augustus 4, 2024 Israeli settlers physically attacked Andrey X (Mistaclim) and his colleague and Palestinians, in an attempt to prevent the villagers of Ras al-Ein from getting water. Incidents like this now happen daily at al-Auja Spring. ### On Augustus 18, 2024 This morning in Ras al-Ein, the army detained a Palestinian resident and removed human rights activists protecting him. Meanwhile, far-right "Im Tirtzu" members stood by, taking photos and cursing undisturbed. The detained Palestinian was later released after hours in the sun with his eyes covered. Despite rising Jewish terrorist acts and criticism of security forces, they continue to cooperate with the extreme right. ### On Augustus 19, 2024 Israeli settler gangs are cutting off water lines belonging to Palestinian farmers near the Al-Auja spring, close to Jericho. ### On September 18, 2024 Settlers arrived in a car and, under cover of darkness, cut the water pipes of the Palestinian community. Activists who were called to the scene for help called the security forces but were searched by them. After completing the sabotage, the criminals got drunk. According to a soldier, the piping is illegal, and therefore settelerqq are allowed to take the law into their own hands. Stellers arrived masked and in the army uniform. ### On November 2, 2024 A group of settlers armed with clubs entered a private yard in the village, instigating violence and attacking residents.Activists present at the scene to mediate and prevent escalation were also attacked by settlers wielding clubs. Gabriel Kalish, security coordinator of Mevo'ot Jericho, who had no jurisdiction in the village, arrived armed and reportedly took part in the altercation. Israeli army and police arrived on-site but allegedly joined the settlers in searching local homes, arresting village residents, and searching vehicles under the pretext of seeking "wanted persons." The settlers involved in the initial attack were not detained by authorities. ### On November 3, 2024, A group of illegal Israeli colonizers attacked a family gathering, on Saturday afternoon, in the Ras ‘Ein al ‘Auja community, northwest of Jericho in the northeastern part of the occupied West Bank. They terrorized the Palestinian residents, before Israeli soldiers abducted the citizen, Muhammad Ishaq, and his two nephews, Jamal and Musa Ahmad Ishaq, while allowing the attackers to go free. ### On November 30, 2024 A settler leads his herd to the trough of the Palestinian herds. ### On December 12, 2024, Settlers Use Camels to Terrorize Ras al-Ain.A herd of settler camels roamed between homes in Ras al-Ain, frightening residents and children—another deliberate tactic to drive Palestinians out and seize their land. These daily invasions occur with the backing of security forces and authorities. ### On December 13, 2024, - Event A: A settler on horseback disrupted a wedding tent, intimidating children before leaving. - Event B: A settler and several shepherds, accompanied by Mevo'ot Yericho’s security coordinator (outside his jurisdiction), led a sheep herd near a Palestinian home. Activists drove them away. - Event C: Settlers attempted to bring camels near village homes. Activists intervened, and after army involvement, they left. Minors, sent by irresponsible adults, were caught on video setting fires. ### On January 1, 2025 In Ras al-Ain Auja, settlers blocked Ein Auja’s water canal to cut off supply to a Palestinian village. When two activists arrived to remove the blockade, three settlers from a nearby illegal outpost attacked them, kicking and threatening them. Military security coordinator Gabriel Kalish stood by, filming and protecting the settlers. The activists were forced to flee. Police were called. ### On January 8, 2025 Andrey X, activist in Mistaclim NGO, was arrested by the Israeli police on the orders of illegal settlers and banned from West Bank for 15 days while he was directed a reporting on the Al-Ain communities. ### On February 17, 2025 A settler sends a minor to graze in a Palestinian field, then falsely claims assault. Police and Border Police, without evidence, arrest the Palestinian child while allowing settlers to remain. The same day, Israeli settlers have diverted the course of the Al-Auja Spring, a vital water source in the Jordan Valley, to prevent Palestinian residents in Bedouin communities from accessing it, according to Al Baydar Organization. The incident exemplifies a pattern where attacks by settlers lead to the arrest of the targeted residents, reinforcing allegations of systemic bias against Palestinian communities. ### On March 8, 2025 On the night of March 8, 2025, hundreds of sheep were stolen by armed Israeli settlers from Palestinian owners in Ras al-Ain Aujah, South Jordan Valley. Despite activists from *Looking The Occupation in The Eye* documenting the theft and reporting it to authorities, no action was taken. The coordinated attack, allegedly involving settlers, police, and the army, led to the beating and arrest of a Palestinian shepherd, falsely accused of stealing his own sheep. Another Palestinian suffered a hand injury from shrapnel. The settlers used a deceptive tactic—mixing their herd with Palestinian flocks—to falsely claim that their sheep had been stolen. Similar methods were used in previous cases, but video evidence had previously led to the acquittal of an accused Palestinian shepherd. After midnight, police claimed the stolen sheep were available for pickup near an outpost, but upon arrival, only 22 sheep were returned. By morning, it was confirmed that over 1,000 sheep were stolen, with additional reports of goats being killed. Some stolen herds were seen being led toward Kochav Hashar. **Sources :** [1](https://imemc.org/article/israeli-forces-abduct-five-palestinians-near-jericho-and-salfit/) ### On March 10, 2025 Israeli forces demolished a house under construction in the village of Al-Auja, north of Jericho in the occupied West Bank. ### On April 1, 2025 On April 1, 2025, 4 Palestinians were injured on Tuesday in an attack by Israeli colonists on park-goers at Ein al-Auja, north of Jericho. Settlers under the protection of Israeli forces, attacked the citizens who were enjoying a visit to Ein al-Auja on the third day of Eid al-Fitr. - They sprayed them with pepper spray and physically assaulted others, resulting in injuries and burns of varying severity to four citizens. - They brought a herd of sheep with them and released them to graze in the area, in an effort to force the visitors to leave the site. - They seize Al-Auja spring north of Jericho, prevent Palestinians from accessing water & take control of the Al-Auja water stream, according to Al-Baydar Organization.

Umm Safa is a village in the Ramallah district of the West Bank, facing severe land seizure by Israeli settlers and military forces. The village has experienced regular invasions and attacks, with settlers and soldiers harassing residents, cutting water supplies, and storming homes, leading to a growing humanitarian crisis. ### Land Seizure: Israeli settlers, backed by the army, have been expropriating private lands from the village, leveling and destroying agricultural areas, including olive and grape trees. Settlers brought bulldozers to prepare the land for illegal settlement expansion on Jabal al-Ras and Abu Tantur hills. ### Impact on Residents: - The village has been under constant attacks from settlers and the Israeli army, with settler violence intensifying, especially since 2023. - Settlers have already fired live bullets at homes, disrupted daily life, and attacked the local school during school hours. - Multiple Palestinian youths, including Mohammed al-Bayed and Abdul Jiwad Salah, were killed while resisting the settler invasions. ## Protests and Suppression: - Villagers, alongside International or Jewish anti-sionist activists, protested the land seizures. These protests have been met with violent suppression by Israeli forces, using tear gas and stun grenades. Soldiers have destroyed monuments dedicated to villagers killed by the army, further intensifying tensions. ## International Appeal: The people and council of Umm Safa are appealing to the international community for solidarity and intervention, calling for action to stop the ongoing land theft, harassment, and displacement. Residents and solidarity activists have been persistently calling for international attention and justice, documenting these ongoing attacks and human rights violations. ## Chronological summary of the recent events in Umm Safa **January 2024** - January 2: Israeli settlers, protected by the military, began bulldozing land in the Jabal al-Ras area of Umm Safa, initiating large-scale land theft aimed at settlement expansion. - January 9: Palestinian man, Ameed Ibrahim Samih Jayousi (31), was killed by Israeli forces. His body was reportedly taken by settlers from a Palestinian ambulance near Umm Safa. - January 13: Israeli anti-apartheid activists visited Umm Safa as attacks from settlers and Israeli military forces increased. - January 20: Israeli forces suppressed Palestinian farmers and tried to prevent them from reaching their lands. Villagers, along with activists, planted olive trees on private lands, but the army uprooted them and fired tear gas at those present. **February 2024** - February 18: Israeli forces kidnapped a young Palestinian man, Muhammad Samih Karaja, after raiding his house in Umm Safa. **May 2024** - May 25: Every Friday, settlers from Ateret settlement have invaded the village’s lands, protected by the army. During this specific Friday, the army not only protected the settlers but also shot stun grenades and gas bombs into the village, setting a field on fire. **July 2024** - July 12: Israeli forces invaded a house in the village, took over the roof, and threw stun grenades at activists documenting the invasion. **September 2024** - September 9: Israeli bulldozers demolished approximately 200,000 m² of cultivated land in the Jabal al-Ras region, including olive and grape trees. Settlers and soldiers invaded the village, intensifying land destruction and harassment. - September 11: Villagers of Umm Safa issued an urgent appeal to the international community, highlighting the continuous attacks by Israeli settlers and soldiers, with blockades cutting off access points to the village and daily harassment. They warned of impending displacement and ethnic cleansing due to the rapid settlement expansion. - September 14: Israeli forces suppressed a peaceful anti-settlement protest march in Umm Safa with tear gas. Villagers and activists were demonstrating against the ongoing land seizures by settlers. - September 15: Settlers continued leveling land just meters away from homes. Israeli forces again used stun grenades and tear gas to disperse demonstrators protesting the theft of 123.5 acres of land by settlers. **March 2025** - March 10 : A group of settlers infiltrated the western side of the village in the early hours of the morning and stormed a car garage belonging to citizen Mohammad Yusuf al-Sabti Sabah and his brother Raafat, where they set it on fire, which led to the complete burning of three vehicles.  ## Ongoing Attacks and Resistance: - Throughout 2024, Umm Safa has been subjected to repeated attacks, with settlers frequently raiding homes, cutting water supplies, and threatening residents. The Israeli military has protected these settlers, often using force to suppress protests from the villagers. - Villagers have tried to resist the settler takeovers by protesting, planting trees on their land, and collaborating with activists, but their efforts have been violently suppressed by Israeli forces. ### Sources : [https://x.com/activestills/status/1809635795071885690](url) [https://x.com/Mistaclim/status/1811848511329120455](url) [https://x.com/PulseofPal/status/1833150391124443183](url) [https://x.com/gazanotice/status/1835125987350069470](url) [https://x.com/imemcnews/status/1834992391532454267](url) [https://x.com/transandwell/status/1834902811550629921](url) [https://x.com/ytirawi/status/1794371379409678695](url) [https://x.com/ytirawi/status/1791901520344101365](url) [https://imemc.org/article/army-suppresses-anti-settlement-march-near-ramallah/](url)