Umm Qusa, South Mount Hebron

We had not been on Route 60 for several weeks and we decided to reach the village of Umm Kusa, this way, so as to check on what is happening with the checkpoints that, after 7.10, were placed at all the entrances and exits, in the entire area

One of the entrances to Samu’, on road 60, has been opened, which makes it somewhat easier now for the residents of the area who find it very difficult to get to purchase food, health services and everything needed for daily life.

At the Dura al Fawwar intersection, which is between Dura and Fawwar a group coming from Dura to Pawwar walks, by car they reach the checkpoint at Dura on road 60, and continue to Fawwar.

At the Qilqis junction, checkpoints as usual. We filmed to show how difficult it makes the routine of life there. Women, men and children, walking on foot, cross the square and on the other side yellow taxis are waiting with which they will reach their destination in Hebron.

We were able to see a woman in advanced pregnancy and a couple with a baby being carried by his father. Terrible heat, the sun is beating down, there is not a drop of humanity in this situation.

We continued to road 365, the Zif junction, and we see a convoy of cars facing Yatta, the big city, which provides basic services, academic studies, a hospital.

The Zif junction which connects road 356 to Yatta, the district city of South Mount Hebron, is usually open to traffic and the pillbox nearby is unmanned. But the army and the police are present from time to time, sometimes setting up a roadblock and sometimes detaining residents of Yatta. Sometimes the Israeli polices check vehicles, and hands out driving reports to Palestinian vehicles.

We enter Nabil’s grocery store to purchase various grocery items for two families whom we will visit. When we finished the purchase and set off, the convoy that was delayed with additional vehicles was still standing. At the checkpoint that allows a single entry to Yatta, a van and soldiers, men and women of the border police are not allowing anyone to enter.

Umm Qusa is a small village and suffers every day from a settler we have already talked about, named Yoav Etzion. Yoav Etzion found a high point in Umm Daraj where there used to be a British police station and he established an outpost there. He fenced off the area, according to his will, and as a result the Palestinians who graze sheep and camels there have very little land to graze. He repeatedly threatens that whoever dares to go against the way he has fenced off the area will be taking a risk.

We got there today after our friend Najah who sent a picture of a camel lying dead on the ground.

Four days before our arrival, at approximately 6:00 in the morning, Saleh Jahlin, who owns several camels and female camels, heard a shot. He came immediately to check the meaning of the shootings and saw Yoav Etzion accompanied by 2 other settlers. He immediately understood that Yoav, the shooter, acted this way, because according to him, they were invading an area that he defined as forbidden for Palestinians to graze.

In the incident, the female camel was killed, and two other camels were injured, but a veterinarian who was called to treat them, managed to save them.

The price of a female camel is around 16,000 NIS.

It is important to note that both the Jahlin and the Ka’abna are Bedouin tribes who were expelled from the Tel Arad area in 1948 to the area.

Inspectors from the Nature Reserves Authority came to investigate the incident, and Yoav Etzion denied doing so.

We know only too well how this will turn out.

We left the food package and toys for the children who were already waiting for our arrival.

This is the occupation.