Susiya: siege, terror, total oppression
14.03.24
There is limited traffic of cars and lorries at the Meitar checkpoint, but save for a few isolated cars the carparks are empty. This is due to a combination of the curfew and Ramadan, as well as the lengthy period of time, since the break-out of the Gaza war, during which workmen do not enter Israel in order to work.
We turned to road 317 and travelled to visit Azam at Susiya. Almost all along our journey the majority of the passes, the dirt roads and the entrances to the villages are blocked. There is almost no possibility to enter with a vehicle, save for via circuitous and twisted routs.
Azam tells us about civilian jeeps with settlers, who are not soldiers but dressed in uniforms, who circle around showing off presence. From time to time they enter the village, threaten the occupants and prohibit them from walking further than 50 meters from their homes! In addition, they have destroyed their water holes, in which they collect rainwater; some of the water holes were blocked with large cement blocks. So as to survive, the occupants are compelled to steal water from the pipes of Mekorot, the Israeli Water Company, which in turn yields blame and accusations.
They are watched around Susiya, not allowed to plow, harvest olives, not go out to pasture far from the encampment, etc.
Azam says his life feels under siege and under constant threat, almost like that of Palestinians in Gaza. Without work, without livelihood, without freedom of movement - tension and frustration rise exponentially.
A few days ago, a woman from the village went down to the valley with some sheep. She was arrested and taken to Kiryat Arba. She was released after a few hours.
The situation is getting worse, the pressure is increasing, and with it the tension and anger. They have no hope for change or improvement in their situation.