Mufaqara - the settler Yisrael Bloch from the Jebel Dov outpost among the Hamamda attackers
Mufarqara is now besieged from all sides so that only a 4×4 can reach them through At-Tuwani. We went to visit Naim Hamamda who was injured in a settler attack two days before we came.
On the way, on the hill on the other side of the road to Mitzpe Asael, stood the flag of Israel. Israeli flags are scattered all along the road, mainly in places where new settlements are located, in territories that do not belong to them, as markers of territory.
Further down the road, a few meters from the turn to Susiya, a bulldozer is piling up piles of dirt along a large section that used to have access roads to Susiya, so that all access options are blocked. Soldiers guarded the bulldozer.
So, as mentioned, we arrived thanks to the 4×4 to visit Naim Hamamda. He is still in the hospital in Yatta and stated that he suffers from fractures in his arms, severe injuries to his chest and head and needs medical treatment. The family lives in Mufaqara a little farther than Fadel, his cousin. They live in a cave. I was surprised how well-kept the entrance is and also inside it shines with its cleanliness and full of handicrafts by Naim’s wife. His wife said that he grazed his herd on the family’s land as he always does, but this time two settlers arrived, one of them being Yisrael Bloch from the Jabel Dov outpost, who sprayed him with mustard gas and after he was blurred and stunned, beat him severely. Now, as mentioned, he needs hospital treatment. His wife says that this is the first time they have succeeded in this way. After the settlers attacked, they ran away and hid in a cistern. The army and the police arrived but did nothing but called the Red Crescent ambulance which took Naim to the Yatta Hospital. In the photos you can see him from a photo taken by the people of “Out of the Herd”.
We expressed our sorrow and shame and wished him well of course. This is all we can do. And we will continue to be in touch with the family.
A-Tuwani
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A-Tuwani
The locals came to a-Tuwani during the 20th century from the village of Yatta. They settled in abandoned ruins, utilizing the arable land, pastures for grazing sheep and the abundance of natural caves for habitation. The residents who settled in the caves came from families who could not purchase land for houses in the mother villages, as well as shepherds who did not have enough land to graze. They were joined by clan members who quarreled with other families in the mother locality.
Some of the residents today live in concrete buildings built above the caves. In the area of the village are several water cisterns and an ancient water well called 'Ein a-Tuwani. Local residents are forced to buy water in containers and transport them through many road blocks to the village. With the help of international organizations, an electrical system was installed in the village. In the late 90s of the 20tTh century, an elementary school was established in the serving several small villages in the area.
In 2004, MachsomWatch began visiting and reporting from the Khirbet Tuwani cave village, which suffers badly from the settlers of nearby outposts, and especially from the extremist Ma'on outpost. . The settlers contaminate cisterns, poison the flocks and uproot trees.Particularly notable is the harassment of children from the surrounding villages on their way to school in a-Tuwani, so much so that military escort of children is required to separate them from the attackers (this was arranged following an initiative of the organization's members). In the past year, the escort has been without the vital presence of overseas volunteers.
Near a-Tuwani there are several families who have returned to the caves due to the incessant demolitions of the civil administration (as there is a total construction ban in all of area C). Destroyed are not only residential and agricultural buildings, but also water pipes, machinery. Even water cisterns are clogged up. a-Tuwani residents have created an association for non-violent demolition protests, but in the past year the army’s harsh harassment and settler violence have intensified and escalated. The incident of the small generator confiscation, which left a young man paralyzed, is one of many examples - any legitimate protection of property rights leads to violence and even shootings by the army and the civil administration.
Updated April 2022
A Palestinian residentMay-12-2025A sheep carcass dumped by settler Shimon Atiya from the Shorashim farm near the school in Umm Qusa.
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Mesafer Yatta
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Masafer Yatta
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