On the evening of January 27, a coordinated and ongoing wave of settler violence unfolded across Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank. Dozens of Israeli settlers, accompanied by Israeli soldiers and police, attacked at least three Palestinian villages: Khirbet al-Halawa, Fakhit, and Taban (with additional attacks reported in Khirbet al-Qin).

Settlers stoned residents, causing multiple injuries, including at least two people with head wounds. Among the wounded were an elderly man with a head injury and an elderly woman with a head injury and a suspected broken arm. Several other residents were injured.

Settlers set fire to homes, vehicles, hay bales, and other property, smashed cars, and stole large numbers of livestock, including reports of up to 150 sheep stolen in Khirbet al-Halawa. The total value of stolen and destroyed property is estimated at hundreds of thousands of shekels.

At around 8:00 p.m., armed settlers and Israeli soldiers blocked an ambulance attempting to reach the wounded in Khirbet al-Halawa. Ambulances were prevented from accessing the villages for over an hour; soldiers reportedly confiscated ambulance keys, forcing medics to proceed on foot. In one incident, settlers opened the doors of an ambulance and harassed those inside, while standing alongside soldiers. Two injured people were eventually evacuated by the Red Crescent from a shelter, one of whom suffered a head injury after being beaten with a baton.

Throughout the evening, Israeli soldiers assisted the attackers by preventing medical access, allowing settlers to move freely from village to village, and arresting two Palestinian women from Khirbet al-Halawa instead of intervening against the attackers.

Later that night, residents of Susiya reported settlers arriving at the nearby Susya settlement and unloading livestock, believed to be the same animals stolen earlier during the attacks.

It should be noted that the villages targeted in these attacks are located within “Firing Zone 918”, an area designated by Israeli authorities and long used to justify forced displacement.

Related attacks earlier the same day:

Earlier that morning, Israeli settlers from the Susya settlement, acting under the protection of Israeli soldiers, uprooted and destroyed approximately 500 trees—including olive, fig, and almond trees—belonging to the Rumi family in Wadi al-Rakhim, near Yatta. Settlers also broke fences, damaged property, and sprayed racist slogans on house walls, and burned Palestinian property in several locations across Masafer Yatta.

Statement of Ofer Cassif:

"Today, around the world and also in the Knesset, we marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In the past few hours, the successors of the Nazis, terrorist settler militias, have been rampaging through villages in Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank, burning property, shooting and wounding people, some of them seriously, and stealing their herds. The occupation forces are assisting the rioters and preventing ambulances from evacuating the wounded. The police refuse to arrive. The routine of occupation, ethnic cleansing and war crimes."

Basel Adra, resident of Al-Tawani and witness, with activists, of the events, wrote his testimony for +972:

Israeli settlers attacked three villages simultaneously over five hours, setting homes on fire, looting livestock, and assaulting residents. Israeli soldiers blocked ambulances, arrested Palestinians, and in some cases participated in beatings.

Victims and Incidents:

in Al-Tuban, Samir Hamamda, 42, and his family: settlers tried to burn the shed where they lived (after his home had been demolished in November). Flames were extinguished, but children suffered from smoke inhalation. Hamamda’s car was damaged during the attack.

in Al-Fakheit, Mohammad Abu Sabha, 49: attacked near his home, beaten, unconscious, bleeding; daughter Naghm, 16, struck; mother Duha, elderly, hit on head, arm broken, rib fractured. Ambulances delayed due to soldiers blocking access; Mohammad and his mother transported to Al-Ahli Hospital, Hebron.

in Al-Halawa, Settlers attempted to seize livestock from Hajj Ahmad Abu Aram, 73, and his daughter Widad Abu Aram, 53, was beaten while trying to protect animals. Fatima Abu Aram, 37, was handcuffed and assaulted while settlers stole her father Fadel Abu Aram’s goats. Khalil Younis Abu Aram, his brother, and sons detained and beaten alongside settlers’ attacks. Approximately 300 sheep stolen from 11 families.

Soldiers and police stood by, set up checkpoints, blocked ambulances, and confiscated phones and keys. Some soldiers reportedly participated in the beatings. Civil Administration vehicles escorted ambulances eventually.

in Wadi Al-Rakhim, the night before, settlers cut down ~500 olive trees of the Rumi family in apparent revenge for the Karm Susya vineyard on Nawajah family land. Army stated forces were deployed due to “frictions” after reports of an Israeli being attacked, acknowledged ambulance delays, and said it was investigating soldiers’ conduct

The Israeli police spin:

"Last night, the Hebron (#الخليل) area witnessed a series of violent incidents that required the intervention of the army (#الجيش) and police (#الشرطة) (Yehuda and Samaria Brigade #يهودا_السامرة): In Khirbet al-Halawa (#خربة_الحلاوة): A shepherd in his twenties from southern Hebron was assaulted, and his livestock and equipment were stolen, causing him minor injuries. Three other local residents were also injured in the incident. In Khirbet al-Fakhit (#خربة_الفخيت): Clashes broke out that forces intervened to disperse. During the incident, a local woman attacked a female army officer, injuring her in the face. The attacker and another woman (aged 50s–60s) were arrested for questioning. In Beit Fajjar (#بيت_فجار): Police and forensic experts investigated the burning of two vehicles, collecting evidence to identify the perpetrators. The police confirmed that they are investigating all violent incidents in coordination with security agencies to bring those involved to justice"