South Hebron Hills – expulsion!

Due to the situation, we have not been on duty in recent weeks.

Yesterday we dared to go out.

It was important in all respects to visit, to see and to hear some of the difficult events experienced by our friend in the South Hebron Hills.

I also really wanted to give them the donation which we had decided to give them and it was made possible thanks to your friendship.

We had the money and could respond to their request to purchase a minibus to transport the children in the villages around At-Tuwani to the school and back.

I was glad that Leah and Moshe asked to join this shift.

According to Leah, Moshe was shocked by what was happening and wanted himself to to see and hear.

On the way to At-Tuwani we saw a transit and 7 settlers on the hill where stands Maktal Umm Salem. Amer Awada lives there.  On the phone, he tells Muhammed that he was evicted from his house on Saturday. The settlers came, beat him and threatened to kill him if he didn't leave his house. According to him, they also stole his equipment and also took his phones. His and his brother's hands were tied. Then they left. Now he is with his family and the sheep at the entrance to Samu’.

When we returned, we saw that the settlers had burned the entire compound. Of course, we didn't dare to get closer and took pictures from the road.

We arrived in At-Tuwani. We met Nasser and Bassel his son. We were happy to give the money, our gift, to Nasser Adra, the organizer of this transport. At my request, they wrote a receipt confirming that they received the money from us for this purpose.

Bassel says that on 15.10, settlers in military uniform arrived at night in Wadi Radim to Amer and his neighbour[N1] , Abu Safi. The settlers told them: ”You have two hours to vacate and leave”.  They cut the water pipe and the power cable. Of course, the Palestinians had to leave immediately. After a few hours, the settlers came with a bulldozer a nd destroyed what had  once been his house and property.

There are two settler families who were responsible: Yinon, who has a farm near Zanota, and Yisrael Kaplan near Mitzpe Asa’el. Bassel says that it is not possible to know who were active in this matter recently. Two days later, they came to Abu Safi, beat him, threatened him that he should leave and closed all the roads to Wadi Radim.

Bassel and Nasser also tell aboutt the Abu Hani family who lived between Avigayil and Mufaqara. They have also been forced to leave and in the meantime have moved to Sha’ab al Butum, but they have lost everything. We will visit them and bring them supplies as much as we can.

Nasser says that At-Tuwani was also informed that the water would be cut off. So far it hasn't happened.

The school is closed because the roads to all the surrounding villages are closed and the teachers cannot get to work. The car we helped purchase is still in its wrappings and waiting for the resumption of studies.

And the road to Yatta, which is across the road in front of the entrance to At-Tuwani, a barrier and a flag were placed and Palestinian cars are being stopped there.