HEBRON,  Wednesday, February 03, 2021 (WAFA) – The Israeli army today conducted military drills for the third consecutive day in Palestinian farmlands in the area of Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, according to local sources.

Fouad al-Amour, a local activist, told WAFA that the military carried out the drills using tanks and live fire, destroying crops in the area and causing psychological distress and panic among the residents, particularly the children.

The drills, he added, came to preempt an Israeli court ruling on a lawsuit filed by the Palestinian farmers in protest of the ongoing Israeli military destruction of their farmland.

Masafer Yatta is a collection of almost 19 hamlets which rely heavily on animal husbandry as the main source of livelihood.

Located in Area C of the West Bank, under full Israeli administrative and military control, the area has been subjected to repeated Israeli violations by settlers and soldiers targeting their main source of living - livestock.

It has been designated as a closed Israeli military zone for training since 1980s and accordingly referred to as Firing Zone 918.

Israeli violations against the area include demolition of animal barns, homes and residential structures. Issuance of construction permits by Israel to local Palestinians in the area is non-existent.

K.T./ K.F.