Israel Army to force-evict 1,000 Palestinians from Masafer Yatta

Ramallah: Israeli Army is making plans to forcibly evict around 1000 Palestinians from twelve villages in Masafer Yatta in the southern West Bank, that too without the knowledge of Israel administration, Arab News reported citing sources.

Israeli officials suggest moving said residents to two new in the region.

But, International humanitarian law prohibits the forced displacement of civilians from or within a territory.

The Army started preparations in November towards displacing the Palestinians there so that it could start regular training exercises in the area.

It is learnt that the plan was presented before the government only last week, that is, after the new administration took office. Also, the decision was communicated to the Palestinian Authority in a meeting last week.

Meanwhile, Israeli security and political sources expressed their concerns on the evolving behaviour of the military in the present issue, where the Army’s ability to stand up to the politicians. They said that the new move should be seen as a “warning signal”, adding that there are far-right and settlers who are able to pressurise senior officials to make decisions as per their political and non-professional considerations.

According to Arab News, attacks on Palestinians by the Israeli Army, police and settlers surged dramatically after the Israeli Supreme Court ordered to displace of eight communities, restricted the movement of residents in some villages, bar non-residents to enter from some villages and finally seized their agriculture machinery, along with their vehicles. In addition to this, settlers also unleash attacks on Palestinian residents, their livestock pastures etc., stopping them from tilling the land and cultivating. In some areas, settlers blocked roads, attacked farmers and set crops on fire. Their actions were affecting residents mentally and physically and ended up deteriorating their living conditions.

In Masafer Yatta villages, spread across 13.5 square miles, around 1,150 Palestinians reside in 215 households, which include 569 children. With the restrictive and discriminatory rule by the Israel administration here, the residents are forced to rely upon humanitarian aid. Here, most of the houses and buildings have “stop work”, or demolition orders issued, citing that they do not have the required permits. But, for Palestinians, procuring the permit is almost impossible.

The Palestinian communities currently residing in the Masafer Yatta region were assisted by humanitarian organisations and donors, providing them with water, electricity etc., and also backing them against forced displacement. But, the Israeli authorities are preventing humanitarian aid from reaching out to the residents too.