HEBRON, Wednesday, May 04, 2022 (WAFA) – Israeli forces today seized gardening tools from al-Juwaya community, east of Yatta, in the southern West Bank district of Hebron, according to a local activist.

Coordinator of the Protection and Resilience Committees, Fuad Al-Amour, told WAFA that Israeli forces barged their way into the community, and seized shovels, spades, pickaxes and outdoor camping accessories, all belonging to a community resident from the De‘is family.

He added that the cause trouble to the community residents, restrict their ability to tend their land and make room for the expansion of the nearby colonial settlement of Ma‘on, as he called on human rights organizations to intervene to halt such Israeli practices.

Settlers from the colonial settlement have grazed their cattle on some 20 donums of farmland planted with seasonal crops belonging to the same family, causing immense losses for them.

Considered as one of the eastern suburbs of Yatta, Aj-Juwaya is heavily targeted by the Israeli occupation measures intended to obliterate Palestinian construction expansion.

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.F.