Kusra –The gate was still locked and has been since the beginning of the war on October 7^th, 2023.  We were unable to enter to photograph the results of the progrom (riot and destruction) that was staged by settlers three days ago.  A woman who lives near the locked gate reported that the settlers had burned many homes and cars.

We saw several buildings to the southwest above Fasail.  We were unable to get closer because the road, which had previously been used by shepherds from Fasail, was blocked and the gate was locked.

The Kaabna Family lives in the Jiftlik but were evicted from El Hadidi six years ago.  They left for their alternate home in the middle of the night because of threats they had received, and a truck collided with them on the road.  Their daughter, who was only 40 days old was killed and the mother was severely injured.    After recovering the mother gave birth to another daughter a year and a half later who was born paralyzed due to a spinal cord defect.   We had not visited them for three years.  We were pleased to see them again, but it was sad to see their daughter  who was lying on a mattress and who needed to be hospitalized every few months because of pressure sores.  She is not receiving proper medical care.

We also visited Mahmoud’s family in Hamra and Burhan in Khalat Makhul.  Before we left we went up to visit the elderly man Abu Khalef who is 90 years old.  We saw him standing in the doorway of his tent looking out, wrapped in warm clothing and a kaffiyeh..    Burhan took the his sheep to him because he can no longer take care of them.  He was born in the valley and wants to die there.  We asked him why he doesn’t move to Tamon where his wife,  children, and grandchildren live.  He answered: ”This is  my place.  I only feel good when I am here.  I love this land.”

On the way to Burdla – a little north of the Makhula Junction, we stopped at a fruit and vegetable stand  to shop.  The owner told us that on December 31^st 2024 settlers came scrawled “Revenge, Death to the Arabs” on the stand, threw out and destroyed all the produce, and set fire  to the tent, causing Nis 10,000 damage.  Where will he get the money to repair it?

We had scheduled a meeting in  Burdla with the mayor of the regional council.   When we arrived he was waiting for us.  The paving of the road that bypasses Burdla about which we reported on December 9^th is progressing, and Israel has forbidden the residents to cross the roadbed.  We met foreign volunteers there who asked us as Israelis who had more privileges to get closer to the outpost that the settlers has erected close to the road, photograph it, and report how many there were.  They also wanted us to see if there was a roadblock or checkpoint there.    When we got there a soldier ordered us politely but firmly to get back from the checkpoint, and if we did not we would be arrested.

The new roadbed not only blocks the entrance to the city of Tuba – forcing people to drive to Tubas by a much longer route.  It also annexes most of the land belonging to the villagers.   The settlers now control that land and are not content with that.  Within a week they had settled there, stolen sheep from the shepherd who lives on the outskirts of the village, driven their cows over the village cornfield, and entered the elementary school in the center of the village and beaten up small children.