JERICHO, Tuesday, July 16, 2024 (WAFA) – Israeli colonists today spray-painted the occupation flag on al-Auja spring, north of the occupied West Bank city of Jericho, according to a local activist.

Hasan Mleihat, head of al-Baydar Association for the Defense of Bedouin Rights, said that colonists barged their way into al-Auja spring (‘Ein al-Auja) and painted the occupying state’s flag on the canal through which water flows and perpetrated provocative acts against the local shepherds.

He added that the colonists’ frequent intrusions into the site were aimed at gradually imposing control over the spring and denying Palestinians of the Bedouin communities access to it as a prelude to forcibly displace them.

Israeli occupation has severely restricted Palestinian access to water in al-Auja village, particularly that local water springs, including ‘Ein al-Auja (al-Auja spring), are located within Area C. Local water springs are susceptible to dryness as a result of Israel’s control over water. Israel have set up huge wells over the local hot water basins, reducing the quantity of water flowing from the spring and causing destruction to thousands of dunums of agricultural land irrigated by the water spring.

Israel has seized at least 2,257dunams belonging to the village for the construction of four nearby colonial settlements, 2,152 dunums for the construction of a military base, besides to more land for opening settler-only by-pass roads, pushing the villagers into a crowded enclave, a ghetto, surrounded by walls, settlements and military installations.

K.F.