We arrived at Hamam al-Maleh at 8:00 AM and relieved the two volunteers who had spent the night with the family. We stayed with them until 2:00 PM, when two other volunteers arrived to replace us. Part of the family is with the flock near Tayasir, while others stayed behind to guard the house—and we are there to guard them.
The night passed quietly. Due to Ramadan, they sleep less at night; after the Iftar meal and prayers, they eat again before dawn and then try to sleep. They are mostly exhausted.
As we sat with them, the men would fall asleep right in front of us, completely covered, while only the woman remained awake and tired with us. We spent much of the time cleaning the spacious yard.
At one point, they asked us to drive and see the ruins of Al-Meyteh and Al-Burj. On the way, we encountered a car full of settlers. They immediately said: “Turn around… let’s go back… we left someone alone, and we can’t risk the settlers arriving while he’s by himself.” We returned immediately and indeed, the settlers’ car was already there. Upon seeing us, they began driving towards us.
The path was too narrow for two cars. I tried to bypass from the right but felt stones and stopped. A stuttered conversation developed with one of the youths, who was met with my anger. Another peeked out the window and shouted, “Yalla, get out of here,” while a third stepped out of the car; all three were hiding their faces with hoodies and hats. They did not like that I was taking photos. Eventually, they left.
Later, a truck arrived to collect iron and materials to set up a pen at the new location where the flock had been moved. There is constant uncertainty and hesitation: whether to stay or to depart. Yesterday they announced they were leaving, but later decided to stay and guard the home.
During the day, we were replaced by two older volunteers from northern kibbutzim who promised to stay until their next relief arrived.
The family has since left the location. In the evening, two volunteers arrived for the night shift.
Everything that happened next has been reported on social media: in the middle of the night, settlers arrived in large numbers with blinding flashlights and loud music. They sabotaged the two volunteers’ cars and assaulted a volunteer who had mistakenly stepped outside, breaking her glasses. A Palestinian man with them fainted from the intense stress. They were rushed for medical treatment. The volunteers have since returned to the site, and this morning they went to give testimony at the police station.

This ongoing story is happening everywhere in the West Bank these days. In most places, there is no protective presence, and one can only hope that Palestinian documentation reaches the right places.