**On October 13**, 2023, Israeli army strikes on a group of 7 journalists in south Lebanon, which killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdullah & injured 6 others. This appears beeing a direct attack on civilians that must be investigated as a war crime. ## **Chronology of Events** **Before the Attack** **Around 5:00 PM,** a group of seven journalists gathered near the village of Alma al-Chaab, Tyre governorate, in southern Lebanon. They were reporting on hostilities near the Lebanese-Israeli border, filming ongoing clashes between Israeli forces and Hizbullah.The group included journalists from Reuters, AFP, and Al Jazeera. **Surveillance by Israeli Forces (5:00–6:00 PM):** Israeli surveillance assets, including an Apache helicopter and possibly a drone, circled above the area for over 40 minutes before the attack. The group was stationary, giving Israeli forces ample time to identify them as civilians and journalists. **First Strike (6:02 PM):** An Israeli tank fired a 120mm round (likely an M339 projectile) from positions near Jordeikh in Israel. Issam Abdallah (Reuters) was killed instantly while sitting on a stone ledge. Christina Assi (AFP) suffered severe injuries, losing her leg. **Second Strike (6:03 PM):** A second projectile, 37 seconds later, likely a guided missile, struck near the journalists, hitting the Al Jazeera car, which caught fire. The explosion caused additional injuries, including to Dylan Collins (AFP) wounded by shrapnel, Carmen Joukhadar (Al Jazeera) suffering of severe shrapnel injuries, Elie Brakhya (Al Jazeera) suffering of a crushed shoulder and severe arm injuries, Maher Nazeh and Thaier Al-Sudani (Reuters) suffering of shrapnel injuries. **Aftermath** Survivors scrambled to assist each other amid the chaos. Verified videos showed injured journalists and the burning Al Jazeera car. ## **Victims and Impact:** **Killed:** - Issam Abdallah (Reuters) **Injured:** - Christina Assi (AFP): Lost one leg. - Dylan Collins (AFP): Shrapnel wounds. - Maher Nazeh (Reuters): Shrapnel injuries. - Thaier Al-Sudani (Reuters): Injuries on the left side of the body. - Carmen Joukhadar (Al Jazeera): Shrapnel wounds. - Elie Brakhya (Al Jazeera): Severe arm injuries and shoulder damage. ## **Weapons used by Israli Army :** The weapons used in the attack on the journalists in south Lebanon on October 13, 2023, were analyzed by Amnesty International: **120mm Tank Round:** The first strike, which killed Issam Abdallah and severely injured Christina Assi, was identified as a 120mm tank round, most likely an M339 projectile, fired from Israeli positions near the villages of Al-Nawaqir and Jordeikh. This type of weapon was manufactured by the Israeli company IMI Systems. An AFP investigation conducted with Airwars, showed that the first strike involved a 120-milimeter tank shell only used by the Israeli army in this region. Amnesty and Human Rights Watch also concluded that the first strike that killed Abdallah and severely wounded Assi was most likely a tank round fired from Israel. **Small Guided Missile:** The second strike, which occurred 37 seconds after the first, hit near an Al Jazeera vehicle, causing it to catch fire. This weapon was likely a small guided missile, though the exact model and launch platform could not be identified. ## **Amnesty International Lab investigation shows :** - Amnesty International’s investigation included over 100 verified videos, photos, witness interviews, and forensic analysis. - The journalists were clearly identifiable as civilians, wearing press vests and positioned in an open, visible location. Journalists wore helmets and flak vests marked “press”. Vehicles were visibly marked, with one car labeled “TV”. The location was an open hill with clear visibility, devoid of any military presence. - An Israeli Apache helicopter and drone surveilled the area for over 40 minutes before the strikes. - Two strikes occurred 37 seconds apart, the first involving a 120mm tank round, likely an M339 projectile, and the second a small guided missile. - No evidence of military objectives or fighters was found in the journalists' vicinity. ## **Other investigations** For its investigation, Reuters worked with the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), an independent research institute which works with the Dutch defense ministry. The probe pointed to "the tail fin of a 120 mm tank round fired by a smoothbore tank gun positioned 1.34 km away from the reporters, across the Lebanese border." It analyzed evidence from the scene, satellite images and hours of footage, including footage from Italian broadcaster Rai "that showed the launch point of the second strike as well as the tank round in flight, and the audio of the firing and the impact of both rounds taken from Al Jazeera's live feed." "Using the Al Jazeera audio, TNO calculated the interval between the sound of the two strikes and the thud of the muzzle blasts to determine that the firing point was 1,343 metres away from the reporters, (..) It said the sound signatures from the strikes matched, showing they were both tank rounds fired from the same position." It determined they originated from an Israeli military outpost in Jordeikh next to the border. ## Reuter statement after investigation (Dec 2023) According to Reuters editor-in-chief Alessandra Galloni, "The evidence we now have, and have published today, shows that an Israeli tank crew killed our colleague Issam Abdallah," (...) "We call on Israel to explain how this could have happened and to hold to account those responsible for his death and the wounding of Christina Assi of the AFP, our colleagues Thaier al-Sudani and Maher Nazeh, and the three other reporters," ## IDF Statements and Denial: Israeli UN Envoy Gilad Erdan stated: “We would never want to hit or kill any journalist... but you know, we’re in a state of war.” The Israeli military announced the incident was “under review.”. One years later, this war crime stays unpunished and no investigation result was communicated to the victims. **Sources :** [1](https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/12/lebanon-deadly-israeli-attack-on-journalists-must-be-investigated-as-a-war-crime/) [2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmcPUzR9KE8&ab_channel=Reporterssansfronti%C3%A8res) [3](https://www.dailysabah.com/world/mid-east/reuters-probe-finds-israel-tank-fire-killed-journalist-in-lebanon)

On 11 October 2023, armed Israeli settlers entered or approached the outskirts of Qusra, Nablus governorates, West Bank, where clashes broke out with Palestinian residents after settlers opened fire toward Palestinian homes and residents. Palestinians went outside to defend their property and families. At least four Palestinians were killed and several others were wounded during the shootings, including young men from local families such as the Odeh and Abu Rida families. Accounts differ regarding the role of Israeli soldiers. Palestinian witnesses reported that Israeli soldiers were present and later also fired when villagers gathered, while the Israeli military stated that it intervened to disperse clashes and opened an investigation. Some reports indicate that it remains unclear whether all fatal shots were fired by settlers or soldiers. The violence continued on 12 October 2023 during funeral preparations for those killed the previous day. Armed settlers allegedly blocked the funeral procession and opened fire, killing a father and his son, Ibrahim Wadi (62–63) and Ahmad Wadi (25–26). Because killings occurred both during the initial attack and the funeral, Palestinian residents and some media later described the events collectively as a “massacre” in Qusra. **Names of the martyrs:** Killed on 11 October 2023 (Qusra): 1) Muath Ra’id Mahmoud Odeh 2) Musab Abdul Haleem ‘Aref Abu Raida 3) ‘Obadah Saeed Awad Abu Srour Killed on 12 October 2023 (funeral procession): 4) Ibrahim Wadi, 62 5) Ahmad Wadi, 23 **Investigation of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel** (Report of June 2024) The Commission documented several cases of settler violence which it considers to be emblematic. The Commission investigated a case from 11 October 2023, in which three Palestinians, including one child, were killed by settlers and another Palestinian was killed by ISF during settler attacks on Qusra village in the Nablus Governorate. Threats were posted on X two days prior to the attack stating, in Arabic and Hebrew, “To all the rats in the sewers of Qusra village, we are waiting for you, and we will not mourn you!! The day of revenge is coming.” According to an investigation by a Palestinian human rights organisation, on 11 October 2023, at around 14:30 to 15:00, a group of eight to ten masked Israeli settlers, some of whom were armed with automatic weapons and handguns, attacked the village of Qusra, located in the southeast of Nablus. Three Palestinians, including a child, were shot and killed by settlers with live ammunition and killed: Muath Ra’id Mahmoud Odeh, 29, shot in the chest; Musab Abdul Haleem ‘Aref Abu Raida, 18, shot in the head; and ‘Obadah Saeed Awad Abu Srour, 17, shot in the head. According to two separate reports based on testimonies of residents, the settlers’ primary target was the Odeh family home. It had been the home of Mahmoud Ahmad Zaal Odeh, who had been killed in 2017 by Israeli settlers. His family of ten members, including five children, resided there. As the attack unfolded, Palestinian residents and young men gathered to defend the area and support the occupants of the targeted home. The settlers, backed by settlement security officers, fired live ammunition directly at the house and the people who had come to defend against the attack. Throughout the attack, the settlers continued to hurl stones and fire live ammunition at the house and towards the windows. According to Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem, a family member, 29-year-old Awad Mahmoud Ahmad Odeh, climbed onto the roof of the house to confront the settlers and drive them away. He threw stones and bricks at the attackers and was shot in the neck and face. His six-year-old daughter, Rahaf Awad Mahmoud Odeh, was also shot in the right shoulder. Both were wounded as a result of the attack. According to several reports, ISF soldiers arrived at the scene later in the day and also directed fire at the Palestinian residents. During the confrontations, Hasan Mohannad Hasan Odeh, 21, was fatally shot in the head by the ISF. Before withdrawing, the ISF confiscated a surveillance camera recording device from the attacked house, which had captured the settlers’ attack on video. In total, three Palestinians were killed by settlers and one by ISF, and 12 Palestinians, including two children, sustained injuries after being shot by the ISF and Israeli settlers with live ammunition, while three Palestinians were killed by settlers and one by the ISF. The next day, on 12 October 2023, at around 10:00, an organised funeral procession, comprising four Palestinian ambulances and accompanied by approximately 15 civilian vehicles, conveyed the bodies of the four dead Palestinians from the Salfit Government Hospital to their hometown, Qusra, for burial. During the course of this journey, a group of Israeli settlers, under the protection of the ISF, obstructed the procession, attacked the vehicles and fired live ammunition. The obstruction included the placement of tyres and stones at a crossroad leading to Qusra. The attack was premeditated and organised. As dozens of Palestinians were participating in the procession to pay their respects to the killed Palestinians, Israeli settlers fired live ammunition, fatally injuring Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud Wadi, 62, in the right shoulder, and his son, Ahmed Ibrahim Ahmed Wadi, 25, in the chest and neck. According to screenshots posted in Haaretz, settlers issued a call on a WhatsApp group named “Updates from the Fight” for other settlers to come to the scene and obstruct the ambulances. **Investigation of Al-Halq and other Palestinian NGO's:** Settler Attack on Qusra Village, Occupied Nablus: Settlers Kill Five Palestinians According to Al-Haq’s documentation, on 11 October 2023, at around 3:00 pm, a group of eight to ten masked Israeli settlers, some of whom were armed with automatic weapons and handguns, launched an attack on the village of Qusra, located in the southeast of Nablus, killing three Palestinians, whereby a fourth Palestinian was killed by the IOF. The following day, Israeli settlers attacked the funeral procession of the four Palestinians killed, firing at Palestinians and killing two Palestinians: a father and his son. The settlers had come from the Israeli colonial outpost, ‘Esh Kodesh’, which translates to “Holy Fire”. This colonial outpost was established in 2000 on Palestinian land to the south of Qusra, approximately 600 metres away from the nearest house in the village. Arriving to the southeast of Qusra, some on all-terrain vehicle (ATV), Israeli settlers initiated their attack on the homes and properties of the Palestinian residents, firing live ammunition directly at residential buildings in the area. Their primary target was the home of Mahmoud Ahmad Zaal Odeh — who was killed in 2017 by Israeli settlers — where his family of ten members, including five children, resides. As the attack unfolded, Palestinian residents and young men gathered to defend the area and supportthe occupants of the targeted home. The settlers fired live ammunition directly at the house and the people who had come to defend against the attack. Throughout the attack, the settlers continued to hurl stones and fire live ammunition at the house and towards the windows. Awad Mahmoud Ahmad Odeh climbed onto the roof of the house to confront the settlers and drive them away. He threw stones and bricks at the attackers and was shot in the neck and face. His 6-year-old daughter, Rahaf Awad Mahmoud Odeh, was also shot in the right shoulder. Approximately five minutes later, three civilian vehicles, each carrying the Israeli security guard of Esh Kodesh and Ahiya colonial outposts and Migdalim colonial settlement, arrived at the scene. They provided support to the settlers who were attacking the houses and Qusra residents, firing live ammunition at Palestinians upon arrival. Around 15 minutes later, the IOF arrived, including military patrols from the Israeli border guards. Dozens of Israeli occupying soldiers dismounted from their vehicles and began firing tear gas canisters and live ammunition at the village’s residents. Subsequently, the Israeli settlers retreated southward, positioning themselves about 100 metres behind the IOF. After approximately an hour and a half, reports confirmed that three Palestinians, including a child, had succumbed to their injuries inflicted by live ammunition from the settlers, and were killed. Their names were Muath Ra’id Mahmoud Odeh, 29, who sustained a gunshot wound to the chest; Musab Abdul Haleem ‘Aref Abu Raida, 18, who sustained a gunshot wound to the head; and ‘Obadah Saeed Awad Abu Srour, 17, a Palestinian child who sustained a gunshot wound to the head. The confrontations in the village of Qusra lasted for over three hours until approximately 6:30 pm. During the confrontations, Hasan Mohannad Hasan Odeh, 21, was fatally shot in the head by the IOF. Before withdrawing, the IOF confiscated a surveillance camera recording device from the attacked house, the home of Mahmoud Odeh’s family, which had captured the settlers’ attack. Injured individuals were transported by Palestinian ambulances to the Algeria Medical Center in Qusra. Subsequently, they were transferred to hospitals in the cities of Salfit and Nablus. While fulfilling its humanitarian duty of transporting the wounded and killed Palestinians, one Palestinian ambulance came under fire with live ammunition aimed at its front and rear windows, with no reported injuries among the ambulance crew members. Overall, on that day, 12 Palestinians, including two children, sustained injuries after being shot by the IOF and Israeli settlers with live ammunition, while three Palestinians were killed by settlers and one by the IOF. The next day, 12 October 2023, at around 10:00 am, an organised funeral procession, comprising four Palestinian ambulances and accompanied by approximately 15 civilian vehicles, conveyed the remains of the four Palestinians killed from the Salfit Government Hospital to their hometown, Qusra. During the course of this journey, a group of Israeli settlers, under the protection of the IOF, obstructed the procession, attacked the vehicles and fired live ammunition. This obstruction included the placement of tires and stones at a crossroad leading to Qusra. As dozens of Palestinians were participating in the procession to pay their respect for the killed Palestinians, Israeli settlers fired live ammunition, fatally injuring Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud Wadi, 62, in the right flank, and his son Ahmed Ibrahim Ahmed Wadi, 25, in the chest and neck. Ibrahim and Ahmed were transferred to Qabalan Medical Clinic and subsequently to Rafidia Government Hospital in Nablus, where Ibrahim was pronounced dead upon arrival, and diligent efforts of medical professionals and paramedics to resuscitate Ahmed were unsuccessful, pronouncing his death shortly later that day. A few days later, on 15 October 2023, at around 12:00 pm, the IOF shot Karam Ayman Moahammad Dweikat, 17, in the right waist during confrontations with armed Israeli settlers and the IOF at Jabal Al-’Orma, in Beita town, in Nablus Governorate. Karam’s death was pronounced at around 1:20 pm at Rafidia Governmental Hospital in Nablus city. The transportation of Karam’s body to his hometown, Beita, was obstructed until around 5:30 pm on the same day, as the IOF and armed settlers had closed the ‘Awarta checkpoint, west of Nablus city. This followed threats by settlers on social media which called for the killing of any Palestinian who holds a public funeral for Karam, recalling their killings of two Palestinians during the funeral procession in Qusra. The social media post was shared on a Telegram channel, with Karam’s photo attached to an Arabic text that reads: “To the rats of Beita town. You tried to harm the Jews of the area, expanding your aggression toward Jabal Al ‘Orma. This time, luckily for you, it ended with the killing of [only] one of you. We warn you not to hold a public and popular funeral for that killed man, advising you to bury him at night and in secret. Learn from the lesson of Qusra residents who thought they could hold a public funeral for their carcasses, which led to two additional killings. Any idiot who attends the funeral of your carcass will be risking his life for instant death…” The Telegram channel called “the Nazi Hunters”, with now more than 7,000 subscribers, has been created since the start of the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza, which on a daily basis publishes photos, names and homes’ addresses of Palestinian figures, mainly activists, calling on “law enforcement officials to punish them”.

**Saeed Al-Taweel** was editor-in-chief of *Al-Khamsa news agency*, **Mohammed Rizq Sobh** was a photojournalist for *Khabar news agency*, **Hisham Al-Nawajiha** was a correspondent with *Khabar news agency*. **On October 9**, while covering the violent bombing of Gaza City, journalists Saeed Radwan al-Taweel, a resident of the Rafah Governorate in the south and editor-in-chief of the Al-Khamsa News website, and journalist Mohammad Rizq Sobh, a resident of Gaza and photographer for Khabar Agency, were killed. In the same bombing, journalist Hisham Al-Nawajiha, who was also covering the events, was severely injured and died later that same day. **Saeed Al-Taweel** was a Palestinian journalist living in Rafah, southern Gaza. On October 9, while covering Israeli attacks in Gaza, he was killed after being targeted by an Israeli rocket. While filming events, Saeed and his news team were ordered by Israeli forces to leave their office before it was bombed. They relocated and continued filming, but that location was also struck, resulting in the deaths of both Mohammad Rizq Sobh and Saeed Al-Taweel. The Israeli army targeted the Al-Hiji building in Gaza City, which housed several media offices. All the journalists were wearing their press jackets and were on duty during the assault. Hisham Al-Nawajiha ### UNESCO Director-General [Statement](https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-director-general-deplores-deaths-journalists-saeed-al-taweel-mohammed-sobboh-and-hisham?hub=72609) : "16 October 2023 (Last update:10 September 2024) I deplore the death of journalists Saeed Al-Taweel, Mohammed Sobboh and Hisham Alnwajha and I request an independent investigation to determine the circumstances of this tragedy. Journalists covering conflict situations must be protected as civilians, in accordance with international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolution 2222/2015 on the protection of journalists, media professional and associated personnel in situations of conflict. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay UNESCO Director-General (...) The three journalists were killed in an airstrike on Gaza on 10 October 2023. Reports indicate the three were covering the evacuation of a nearby residential building when the missile strike occurred. UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity building and by coordinating the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity. "

### First massacre Around, an Israeli airstrike targeted a house belonging to the Al-Khalidi family, near the Fares roundabout in Bureij, central Gaza. [4 people were killed](https://x.com/Qadeyah1/status/1843709599175868578) 1. Abdurrahim Shadi Al-Khalidi 2. Fadi Abdurrahim Al-Khalidi 3. Abdurrahman Fadi Al-Khalidi 4. Mohammed Rami Al-Khalidi ### Second massacre Moments before midnight, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Al-Khalidi family home in Block 6 of Bureij camp, central Gaza. This was the **second time under 24 hours** that the family was targeted. A few minutes later, Israeli drones [dropped bombs](https://x.com/Hamzaalnamla1/status/1843752663504302106) around the house. Three people were killed including an [infant boy](https://x.com/abdallahatar/status/1843756830071386232). Injuries were [transferred](https://x.com/Hamzaalnamla1/status/1843760227281485913) from Al-Awda Hospital to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital due to their severity.

At-Tuwani (التواني) is a small Palestinian village in the South Hebron Hills, southeast of Yatta and near the Israeli settlement of Ma’on with a population of 194 residents (2017) and is known for its cave dwellings. Since 1967, At-Tuwani has been under Israeli control, affecting its administrative and legal status. A village council was established in 1994, overseeing At-Tuwani and neighboring hamlets. ## Harassment and apartheid Settlement of Ma’on established in 1982, with further outposts and expansions, often leading to settler attacks on Palestinians. Settlers from Havat Ma’on have frequently attacked Palestinian shepherds, farmers, and international observers. Their violence includes poisoning water sources, contaminating grazing areas, and direct attacks. At-Tuwani hosts the only local school, attended by children who must pass near the settler outpost, risking frequent attacks. Many buildings, including the local school, face demolition orders. Attempts to build a kindergarten and clinic were obstructed, with the clinic’s construction declared illegal. A weekly clinic funded by a European NGO serves local residents, but it faces limitations due to the ongoing restrictions and lack of permits. No running water in At-Tuwani; residents rely on rainwater cisterns and face challenges obtaining water infrastructure permits. Efforts to connect to the Israeli water network have seen limited success due to the area’s designation as Area C, under Israeli control. Many homes and lands are at risk due to exclusion from the Israeli Civil Administration's master plan. Legal battles continue to prevent demolitions and maintain residents' rights to shelter and water access. Legal and Human Rights ## Mohammad Huraini Mohammad Huraini and other activists in Masafer Yatta, West Bank, face daily brutal oppression from Israeli occupation forces and extremist settlers. Since Israel's war on Gaza began, repression has intensified as Israel continues its illegal efforts to forcibly evict Palestinians from their homes to create a "military firing zone." The village of at-Tuwani has long endured violent settler attacks, often supported by Israeli soldiers, aimed at driving Palestinians from their homes. Activists like Huraini document these forced evictions and attacks, risking their lives to share the truth on social media. With Israeli aggression escalating and settlers increasingly armed, this work has become more dangerous and harder to sustain. Donations are urgently needed to support activists like Huraini in exposing these crimes and raising global awareness. Without this documentation, these human rights violations may go unnoticed. ## Chronology **On November 24, 2025**, settlers from Maon terror outpost descended to al-Tuwani, Masafer Yatta. The settlers, protected by soldiers, injured two & escaped without being held accountable. **On April 20, 2025:** Expulsion and arson attempt in Susya. At noon, a family from Wadi Rahim (an area in Susya that suffers from violence from settlers and the army) went out to harvest the crops they had sown. A group of masked settlers charged at them and expelled them from the area. But that wasn't enough for the settlers, and they began a series of arson attempts in the area. Three points in the field were burned, as well as a house under construction. Police and Border Police arrived at the scene only after the arson had ended, and while they were in the area, settlers began approaching the house of the family who was trying to harvest, as if to show how immune they are from the consequences of the state authorities as long as they evict Palestinians and damage their property. When they arrived at the family's home, they threatened the family, pushed them, and threw stones at them. The army eventually allowed the family to continue harvesting, but after they finished, settlers grazed on their land and damaged the crops they had not managed to take. **On June 14, 2025** Sami Hureini was arrested in the morning with two other activists by Israeli forces in Khallet al-Dabaa a village under siege and ethnic cleansing,in Masafer Yatta. It began when 🇮🇱 settler invaded village gardens, letting sheep destroy trees. When locals intervened, settlers in military uniform arrived, led by Dani Shukrun and arrested and arrested them. **On June 18, 2025** Hafez Hureini was arrested for the same reason: he was supporting the remaing community in Khirbet al-Dabaa. Mohammed was also breivlu arrested by two settlers-soldiers. Their car were seized and kept in Susiya. ## Advocacy: NGOs and Israeli MPs have petitioned for At-Tuwani's access to basic services. The community’s struggle highlights a "catch-22" situation, where legal restrictions prevent sustainable living and farming practices, risking land confiscation. Sources : [1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-Tuwani) [2](https://www.middleeasteye.net/fr/reportages/palestine-israel-masafer-yatta-expulsion-zone-militaire-colonisation) [3](https://chuffed.org/project/119939-support-a-west-bank-activist)

**On 26 October 2023 at 2:30 am**. Moazzaz Obayat, a 39-year-old Palestinian bodybuilder arrested without charges, during a violent raid storming his house, in front of his 4 children and his pregant woman. He held under administrative detention, which allows detention without formal charges. He was detained in the Ofer Negev Prison. **On July 10, 2024**, he is released showing signs of severe medical neglect and torture, revealing the inhumane conditions imposed on Palestinian prisoners by the Israeli occupation. **On October 16, 2024**, three months after his released, he was re-abducted, **at dawn**, during a raid by the Israely soldiers in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, after storming his home. **He was obviously subject of sever abuses during his detention :** - Obayat, once weighing 109kg of muscle, lost over half his body weight and is now emaciated, unable to walk unaided. - The video footage of Abayat’s frail state upon release has spread widely on Arab social media, but has seen little coverage in Western media. **Impact on his mental health** - The first days, Obayat no longer recognizes his father or the details of his past life. - His wife, Noor, and mother collapsed upon seeing him leave jail in a broken state. - he expressed the feeling of never being able to come back to life, of being mentally imprisoned for life. **His testimony shed significant light on the systematic abuse of detainees** - he reports being beaten, tortured, starved, and deprived of water throughout his imprisonment. - his leg and his hans were broken in detention and left untreated. - he describes being beaten while naked, losing consciousness after being hit with an iron bar. - he describes his experience in the Negev prison as particularly harsh: freezing conditions, insufficient water, and minimal, poor-quality food. - he states that prisoners were subjected to epidemics like scabies due to poor hygiene and limited showers. - he recounts brutal physical abuse, including being hit and "search" in private parts with iron stick (in Ofer Prison) - "We almost died," he says, in an iron caravan where he remembers inhaling gas and feeling a lack of oxygen (In Gush Etzion Detention center). A place where, he later describes, they beat them "with iron clubs until their heads, feet and hands were covered in blood. - he was the witness of the murder of a friend (or a brother) Thayer Abu Asab, in prison for 18 years, since 2005, killed in "room 6", after being beaten during one hour with iron sticks on his head.(Israeli authorities confirmed was beaten to death by 19 guards on 18 November 2023) "He lay in the room for an hour, they killed him and they didn't call an ambulance or treat him." - On December 4, during a violent interrogation, while sitting in a chair with his legs and arms chained behind his back, "I was given a beating that no human being can imagine." A Shin Bet (Israeli internal intelligence) officer asked him: "Are you with us or with them?", referring to Israel or Hamas."I answered honestly: 'I'm not on any side, I'm a civilian. You invaded my house and arrested me.' He didn't like what I said. He left the office and a group of three to five men came in and started beating me. They hit me with a metal baton on the head, stomach and sensitive areas of the body, on the tendons, until I lost consciousness ," he details. - he adds, that, in Ofer Detention camp, access to food, hygiene or drinking water was also extremely limited : “One shower every three months,” “one litre of water for ten people in a room,” a bathroom “without running water.” As for electricity, only three hours a day, and a meal of “ten or twelve beans with a bit of cabbage” from breakfast to dinner. - According to him, 2000 of the 3000 prisoners in Ofer Prison suffers od chronicle scabies. **Perpetrators** - He names "Captain Salem, head of Nablus area, Captain Dahari (nicknamed Abu Jameel), Captain Ibri for the Gush Etzion detention center. - He names the Keter unit in Ofer Prison (the worst reputation detention center, like Guantanamo or Abu Graib), under the direction of Yusuf Khnafis (nicknamed Abu Shadi), who gave the torture orders. ## [The Prisoners Club Statement](https://www.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/105863) Ramallah, 16-10-2024, WAFA- The Palestinian Prisoners' Club (PPC) held the Israeli occupation authorities fully responsible for the life of detainee Moaz Ebayat (37 years) from Bethlehem, who was re-arrested at dawn today, three months after his release, in a difficult and shocking health condition due to the torture he was subjected to during his 9-month administrative detention. He was released at the time from the Negev prison, which was and still is the most prominent prison witnessing torture crimes. According to the family of the detainee, Abayat, the occupation forces stormed his house at two in the morning, and when he was taken out of the house, he was beaten. (...)The Prisoners Club confirmed that Abayat is still** undergoing treatment since his release, and he needs continuous health follow-up.** He is one of thousands of detainees in the occupation prisons who are facing crimes of unprecedented level. It is worth noting that he is a former detainee who was arrested three times, and he is married and the father of five children. He did not suffer from any health problems before his previous arrest. The Prisoners Club renewed its call to international human rights institutions to restore their necessary role for which they were created, and to put an end to the ongoing genocide and the horrific crimes to which our people are being subjected, including detainees in the occupation’s prisons and camps, which have been transformed into arenas for the crime of torture since the beginning of the war of extermination, “while reaffirming that everything we are witnessing today are fixed and systematic crimes practiced by the occupation over many decades, but the only variable is the intensity and level of these crimes.” ## Broader Issue: Over 3,500 Palestinians are currently held under administrative detention in Israeli prisons, many from the West Bank. Human rights groups and Palestinian organizations claim that the conditions Abayat faced are common among Palestinian detainees. ## International Response: - Israeli authorities deny the claims of abuse, stating that Obayat received medical care according to protocol. - Human rights groups report restricted access to Israeli prisons, limiting information on prisoners' conditions. - Obayat urges the international community to investigate Palestinian prison conditions and support his people, highlighting the lack of legal representation and international protection for detainees. [source 1](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestine-west-bank-muazzaz-abayat-prison-interview?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Social_Traffic&utm_content=ap_ciglas1vwn) [source 2](https://x.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1812142642810994821) [source 3](https://www.france24.com/es/medio-oriente/20240926-sufr%C3%AD-torturas-inimaginables-el-infierno-de-un-prisionero-palestino-en-las-c%C3%A1rceles-de-israel?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=x&utm_source=user&utm_slink=f24.my%2FAcvS) ## ONG investigation In its August report, *'[Welcome to Hell: The Israeli Prison System as a Network of Torture Camps'](https://www.btselem.org/sites/default/files/publications/202408_welcome_to_hell_eng.pdf)*, the Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem collects the testimonies of 55 released prisoners and relatives of inmates who point out the mistreatment to which Palestinian prisoners are subjected. *(Archivist's clarification: the English spelling of Moazzaz Obayat's name varies enormously. Articles name him Moaz, Moiz, Muazzaz Moazzaz,.. and his surname is spelled Obayyat, Obayat, Obaiat, Abayat, Abayad.. We opted for the following spelling: Moazzaz Obayat).*

The Israeli forces have systematically caused severe destruction to Gaza's education sector, with many universities either destroyed or repurposed as shelters for displaced families. This will have long-lasting effects on Gaza's 90,000 students and the region's educational future. **Below are the universities affected:** ## 1. Islamic University of Gaza Founded in 1978, over 17,000 students as of 2023 **Destruction**: Destroyed on **10 October**; accused by Israel of producing weapons without any evidence. Previously hit in 2008-2009 and 2014. [Major Asaf Fred,](https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1799904047844991190.html) who was later in Rafah & a commander in IDF’s 460 Brigade, admits to the destruction of IUG university in Gaza, a court & Rimal neighborhood **without any military objectives**. He also called for the destruction of Amalekite cities + “‘no good arabs” On December 19 he posts a long Genocidal justification. Excerpt : *“Yes, this is how you destroy an enemy: Not only by killing its soldiers but also by destroying its symbols…..The destruction of the enemy's national symbols is a clear declaration that the games are over, and we want to win."* On March 1, he shares a satellite imagery of Younis: “Amazing! This is how it should be done to all the Amalekite cities. (Khan Yunis, during the IDF maneuver)”  In November 5, 2024, some remaining buildings of this University were used as military base by Israeli troops. "My alma mater @IUGAZA med school is now a military point in the middle of Gaza. This IOF soldier is bragging about intentionally causing a delay in the start of the academic year because of occupying it and destroying its teaching hospital!" writes on X @OsaidesserMD Palestinian Academic global surgeon   ## 2.Al-Azhar University Founded in 1991 during the First Intifada, 17,000 students and 12 faculties at its peak. Destruction: [Bombed by aistrikes](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231106-israeli-air-strikes-target-gazas-al-azhar-university/) **on 6 November**, heavily damaging the campus. And [blowed up ](https://x.com/EretzIsrael/status/1732885147844764051)on December 7. "On Shabbat, we loaded the mines, and I signed off on the shipment with a modification due to the sanctity of Shabbat,” First Master Sergeant David Zoldan, the operational officer of Company A of Israel’s 749 Battalion wrote in a Facebook post on December 20. “A few days later, we assembled them and booby-trapped one of Gaza’s symbols of the future—Al-Azhar University in the northern part of the strip—and blew it up.”  December 2023: Company A of the 749 Battalion was tasked with rigging up the south Gaza City campus of Al-Azhar University with explosives and detonating them, reducing Gaza’s second-largest university to rubble. On the footage, we can heard soldiers said "Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined” when they watch the powerful explosion. The mining and detonation of the University was released on his Social netework by the IDF soldiers of the[ 749 Combat Engineering Corps ](https://x.com/ytirawi/status/1835331007240655224)invluding : 1. David Zolden, Operational Officer 2. Arthur Davidov 3. Rafael Ben Ishay 4. Maya Radoszkowicz 5. Arik Tedler 6. Amit Yagodeev 7. Saar Hirshoren 8. Natvie Korkus 9. Yossi Nahari 10. Roman Dyachenko 11. Daniel Bedoya 12. Yehuda Efraim 13. Nathan Emergui 14. Eli Biton 15. Amit Viner 16. Rony Ifrach 17. Omri Felous 18. Royi Wickes 19. Netanel Levine 20. Yahav Hoffmann 21. Yahav Abr 22. Dor Osher 23. Adib In the following picture, Liad Ohayon, of Moroccan origin, serving in the Givati Brigade's Shaked Battalion celebrated the completion of their military service on the Al-Azhar University campus, which had been used as a military base and was subsequently detonated upon their withdrawal.  ## Al-Quds Open University Founded IN 1991 by the PLO, it's the largest non-campus university with 60,000 students across the West Bank and Gaza. Occupation : Turned into military barracks Destruction : bombed on **15 November**.   ## 3. Al-Israa University Founded in 2014 (Gaza's youngest university) Occupation : Its main building was occupied for 70 days by Israeli soldiers and [Destruction](https://www.news18.com/world/watch-israel-destroys-al-israa-university-in-gaza-drone-footage-captures-controlled-explosion-8746213.html) : on **17 January 2024** by a massive Blowing up (355 explosives) During a press conference on Thursday, a U.S. State Department Spokesperson was asked if Israa University was a legitimate target. To this, spokesperson Matthew Miller said, *“I don’t have independent information to verify that. But I can say that we continue to urge Israel to avoid damage to critical infrastructure – that would, of course, include universities – and to ensure the protection of humanitarian and medical sites.”* [According to ](https://x.com/ireallyhateyou/status/1767076644802462115)Itai Blumenthal (2024, 08:14 on March 11), it seems that the Brigadier General Hiram authorized the demolition of the Al Asraa University building in the south of Gaza City on the grounds that tunnels were dug under the building where terrorists were hiding. Since it is a sensitive building, Brigadier General Hiram was supposed to get permission in advance from the commander of the Southern Command. Two months later, the commander of the Southern Command recorded the "note" to the commander of Division 99 with the approval of Chief of Staff Halevi. ## 4. Palestine Technical College Founded in 1993 in Deir el-Balah, 1,800 students Now a shelter for displaced Palestinians. ## 5. University College of Applied Sciences (UCAS) Founded in 1998 in Gaza City. 8,500 students in 2023 Had a start-up incubator for entrepreneurs.Shelled on 22 January while sheltering displaced families. Israeli occupation forces turn the University College of Applied Sciences into a military base in Augustus 2024.  ## 6. University of Palestine Founded in 2005. was a Shelter for displaced families; targeted on 17 January when Israel detonated over 300 mines. ## 7. Al-Aqsa University Began as a teacher training institute in 1955, evolved into a university by 2001. 26,000 students in 2022 Shelled on 22 January while housing displaced people. In May 2024, a picture of an IDF soldier (Tair Glisko. 424th Battalion, Givati Brigade) is released on the social media and is investigated by Younis Tirawi. Israel’s biggest newspaper, Yedioth Ahronot, reports this investigation and the response of Israel military: “This is a serious incident… an investigation was opened by the military police. The incident at the university is also being investigated at the senior levels”.  This autodafe was confirmed by Jake Godin in a [OSINT investigation](https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1793700811870290179.html) ## 8. Gaza University Founded in 2006. 10 Faculties including law, education, and computer sciences. Destroyed by an airstrike in December. ## 9. Hassan II University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Established in 1992 in Beit Hanoun with Moroccan support Destroyed by Israeli forces in December. ## 10. Dar al-Kalima University: Gaza Training Centre Founded in 2020, Providing arts training and therapy for trauma-affected children. Destroyed during Easter Holy Week in late March. The destruction of these institutions highlights the severe disruption to Gaza's education system, impacting thousands of students and faculty and hampering educational and cultural development for future generations. Eight people were injured in a drone bombing targeting the University College of Applied Sciences, which houses displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Yunis Source ## Letter from Palestinian Universities to students and faculty in Gaza Solidarity Encampments in US academic institutions [This letter was released the 1st May 2024.](https://www.birzeit.edu/en/news/letter-solidarity-palestinian-universities-nsjp-palestine-solidarity-movement-us-universities) *"In a moment of great darkness, your protests erupt and give hope for humanity that justice is not an abstract concept but a continuous struggle that connects us all. Your values are emancipating the university from structural racism and complicity with power and colonialism. The situation in Palestine has reached increased genocidal levels, marked by the mass targeting of Palestinian life by killing and displacement; the destroying of social, cultural, and all educational institutions; and the aim to reduce Palestinians to bare life with no political and collective future. You are leaders in the call for justice with your bodies on your university campuses and in the streets, speaking truth and justice loud and clear. You stand for the courage that is needed to take action strongly for justice and freedom and determinedly against systems of genocide and racism. We know the risks you are taking in face of the repressive measures that are taken against university spaces built on challenging the powers benefitting from silence. At a time when the voices of the oppressed are intentionally silenced, your solidarity serves as a beacon of hope. Your actions are a resounding message that injustice and oppression will not be tolerated. We draw inspiration from the courage of those who refuse and resist the continuing injustices of settler colonialism and military occupation. We welcome you at our universities in a liberated Palestine. Together,* Presidents of Palestinian Universities Prof. Omar Melad - President of Al-Azhar University of Gaza Prof. Kamalin Shaath - President of Islamic University of Gaza Prof. Hasan Abu Jarad - President of Gaza University Prof. Ayman Soboh - President of Al-Aqsa University Prof. Mustafa Abusafa - President of Palestine Polytechnic University Prof. Samer Najde - President of Al-Quds Open University Prof. Abdel Khaleq Alfaraa - President of Al-Israa University Prof. Jaber Alda'or - President of University of Palestine Prof. Abdelnaser Zied - President of An-Najah National University Prof. Talal Shahwan - President of Birzeit University Prof. Raghad Dwiek - President of Hebron University Prof. Imad Abu Kishek - President of Al-Quds University Prof. Ali Abuzuhre - President of Arab American University Prof. lyad Twal - President of Bethlehem University Prof. Husein Shanak - President of Palestine Technical University - Kadoorie Prof. Nour Aldeen Abu Aroub - President of University of Al Istiklal Prof. Imad Alzeer - President of Palestine Ahliya University Prof. Dawod Zataree - President of Al-Zaytoonah University of Science and Technology Prof. Matre Alraheb - President of Dar Al Kalema University Prof. Derar Alayan - President of Nablus University for Vocational & Technical Education" Sources : [1](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/24/how-israel-has-destroyed-gazas-schools-and-universities) [2](https://www.middleeasteye.net/explainer-gaza-israel-palestine-war-university-destroy) [3](https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/israel-749-battalion-demolition-gaza) [4](https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/6108Some)

Ras Al-Ein Al-Auja, is a farmer communities in the south of the Jordan Valley, in the eastern West Bank, located ten kilometers north of Jericho. Al-Auja (Arabic: العوجا) is the nearest Palestinian town in the Jericho Governorate of the State of Palestine. Agricultural land makes up over 10% of the town's area, mostly planted with bananas, oranges, and vegetables for which al-Auja is well known. Irrigation water is mainly supplied from the al-Auja spring and this is regularly attacked by Israeli Stellers in order to harass the Bedouin communities. Israeli soldiers support the settlers and allow impunity escalating the water apartheid. Ein al-Auja has been subject to frequent attacks by Israeli settlers, who have established several colonial outposts in the surrounding area over the past few years, in an attempt to take control of the land and water resources of the area and prevent local Palestinians’ access. Several Activist groups record and support the local communities : Mistaclim, Standing Together. On January 28, 2024, the Jewish-Arab solidarity guard (Standing Together) in northern Israel organized a [meeting](https://x.com/omdimbeyachad/status/1751611899874021769)between Palestinians and Jews in the Ras al-Ein village, where participants discussed life over the past few months and how to build strong networks of solidarity between Palestinians and Jews in the north. ### On February 4, 2024 On the holy Shabbos and with white shirts, armed settlers, invading the barn with the aim of stealing and looting the sheep of the Palestinian shepherds community. With the knowledge and under the auspices of the security forces who were informed, but did not prevent. Settlers terror is a daily reality. ### On June 22, 2024 In Ras al-Ain, Israeli settlers and soldiers fired weapons, stole livestock, and carried out arbitrary arrests ### On July 16, 2024 Settler Drone Terror in Ras al-Ain : A settler drone crashed over Ras al-Ain, prompting armed forces to invade, harass, and intimidate residents late into the night. Settlers, with military backing, act above the law—recently stealing livestock under their protection. ### On Augustus 4, 2024 Israeli settlers physically attacked Andrey X (Mistaclim) and his colleague and Palestinians, in an attempt to prevent the villagers of Ras al-Ein from getting water. Incidents like this now happen daily at al-Auja Spring. ### On Augustus 18, 2024 This morning in Ras al-Ein, the army detained a Palestinian resident and removed human rights activists protecting him. Meanwhile, far-right "Im Tirtzu" members stood by, taking photos and cursing undisturbed. The detained Palestinian was later released after hours in the sun with his eyes covered. Despite rising Jewish terrorist acts and criticism of security forces, they continue to cooperate with the extreme right. ### On Augustus 19, 2024 Israeli settler gangs are cutting off water lines belonging to Palestinian farmers near the Al-Auja spring, close to Jericho. ### On September 18, 2024 Settlers arrived in a car and, under cover of darkness, cut the water pipes of the Palestinian community. Activists who were called to the scene for help called the security forces but were searched by them. After completing the sabotage, the criminals got drunk. According to a soldier, the piping is illegal, and therefore settelerqq are allowed to take the law into their own hands. Stellers arrived masked and in the army uniform. ### On November 2, 2024 A group of settlers armed with clubs entered a private yard in the village, instigating violence and attacking residents.Activists present at the scene to mediate and prevent escalation were also attacked by settlers wielding clubs. Gabriel Kalish, security coordinator of Mevo'ot Jericho, who had no jurisdiction in the village, arrived armed and reportedly took part in the altercation. Israeli army and police arrived on-site but allegedly joined the settlers in searching local homes, arresting village residents, and searching vehicles under the pretext of seeking "wanted persons." The settlers involved in the initial attack were not detained by authorities. ### On November 3, 2024, A group of illegal Israeli colonizers attacked a family gathering, on Saturday afternoon, in the Ras ‘Ein al ‘Auja community, northwest of Jericho in the northeastern part of the occupied West Bank. They terrorized the Palestinian residents, before Israeli soldiers abducted the citizen, Muhammad Ishaq, and his two nephews, Jamal and Musa Ahmad Ishaq, while allowing the attackers to go free. ### On November 30, 2024 A settler leads his herd to the trough of the Palestinian herds. ### On December 12, 2024, Settlers Use Camels to Terrorize Ras al-Ain.A herd of settler camels roamed between homes in Ras al-Ain, frightening residents and children—another deliberate tactic to drive Palestinians out and seize their land. These daily invasions occur with the backing of security forces and authorities. ### On December 13, 2024, - Event A: A settler on horseback disrupted a wedding tent, intimidating children before leaving. - Event B: A settler and several shepherds, accompanied by Mevo'ot Yericho’s security coordinator (outside his jurisdiction), led a sheep herd near a Palestinian home. Activists drove them away. - Event C: Settlers attempted to bring camels near village homes. Activists intervened, and after army involvement, they left. Minors, sent by irresponsible adults, were caught on video setting fires. ### On January 1, 2025 In Ras al-Ain Auja, settlers blocked Ein Auja’s water canal to cut off supply to a Palestinian village. When two activists arrived to remove the blockade, three settlers from a nearby illegal outpost attacked them, kicking and threatening them. Military security coordinator Gabriel Kalish stood by, filming and protecting the settlers. The activists were forced to flee. Police were called. ### On January 8, 2025 Andrey X, activist in Mistaclim NGO, was arrested by the Israeli police on the orders of illegal settlers and banned from West Bank for 15 days while he was directed a reporting on the Al-Ain communities. ### On February 17, 2025 A settler sends a minor to graze in a Palestinian field, then falsely claims assault. Police and Border Police, without evidence, arrest the Palestinian child while allowing settlers to remain. The same day, Israeli settlers have diverted the course of the Al-Auja Spring, a vital water source in the Jordan Valley, to prevent Palestinian residents in Bedouin communities from accessing it, according to Al Baydar Organization. The incident exemplifies a pattern where attacks by settlers lead to the arrest of the targeted residents, reinforcing allegations of systemic bias against Palestinian communities. ### On March 8, 2025 On the night of March 8, 2025, hundreds of sheep were stolen by armed Israeli settlers from Palestinian owners in Ras al-Ain Aujah, South Jordan Valley. Despite activists from *Looking The Occupation in The Eye* documenting the theft and reporting it to authorities, no action was taken. The coordinated attack, allegedly involving settlers, police, and the army, led to the beating and arrest of a Palestinian shepherd, falsely accused of stealing his own sheep. Another Palestinian suffered a hand injury from shrapnel. The settlers used a deceptive tactic—mixing their herd with Palestinian flocks—to falsely claim that their sheep had been stolen. Similar methods were used in previous cases, but video evidence had previously led to the acquittal of an accused Palestinian shepherd. After midnight, police claimed the stolen sheep were available for pickup near an outpost, but upon arrival, only 22 sheep were returned. By morning, it was confirmed that over 1,000 sheep were stolen, with additional reports of goats being killed. Some stolen herds were seen being led toward Kochav Hashar. **Sources :** [1](https://imemc.org/article/israeli-forces-abduct-five-palestinians-near-jericho-and-salfit/) ### On March 10, 2025 Israeli forces demolished a house under construction in the village of Al-Auja, north of Jericho in the occupied West Bank. ### On April 1, 2025 On April 1, 2025, 4 Palestinians were injured on Tuesday in an attack by Israeli colonists on park-goers at Ein al-Auja, north of Jericho. Settlers under the protection of Israeli forces, attacked the citizens who were enjoying a visit to Ein al-Auja on the third day of Eid al-Fitr. - They sprayed them with pepper spray and physically assaulted others, resulting in injuries and burns of varying severity to four citizens. - They brought a herd of sheep with them and released them to graze in the area, in an effort to force the visitors to leave the site. - They seize Al-Auja spring north of Jericho, prevent Palestinians from accessing water & take control of the Al-Auja water stream, according to Al-Baydar Organization. **On Augustus 10, 2025** *"Over the past 24 hours, settlers began establishing a new outpost near the village of Ras Ein al-Auja in the southern Jordan Valley, an act that will require incursions by settlers into the village’s lands and will inevitably expose residents to violence, looting, and destruction. In recent months, settlers set up a water point above the Palestinian community of Ras Ein al Auja, recently, the tank was connected to a pipeline from illegal outposts east of “Kohav HaShahar”. Today, settlers arrived with overnight gear, mattresses and a shade tarp, and unloaded it in the “Burned Houses” area, **a compound abandoned in April 2024 and later torched by settlers**. These actions constitute a severe violation of Palestinians’ property rights, livelihoods, and safety. We demand that the state act immediately to stop them. The international community must intervene in the West Bank and press Israel to halt the “wild west” policy now prevailing under Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich’s government"*. (Mistaclim report) **On Augustus 15, 2025** Gabriel, an Israeli "security officer" with no legal power in al-Auja, is filmed while he's terrorizing the area with a sadistic smile. He led the ethnic cleansing of al-Muarrajat—courts say he was never there. This is settler colonialism, protected by the system.

- Mount Sabih is located between three Palestinian villages: Qabalan, Yatma, and Beita, south of Nablus. - **In May 2021**, Israeli settlers established the illegal outpost Evyatar on the mountain's highest peak. - A compromise was reached with Israeli authorities** in July 2021**, allowing settlers to return if the land is declared state-owned. -** On July 8, 2021**, Palestinian villagers petitioned the Israeli High Court to revoke this compromise, claiming ownership of the land. - The Israeli Supreme Court postponed its ruling until a decision on the land's status is made. - **In October 2021**, 60 dunams (15 acres) were declared state land, and a legal settlement was approved in February 2022, though no action was taken. ## 2023-2024 - **Incident at Beita Protest: On 6 September 2024**, American-Turkish Activist Killed: Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old American-Turkish human rights activist, was shot in the head by Israeli forces during a protest in Beita, West Bank, and died from her injuries. Eygi attended a protest in Beita, near the Israel settlement of Evyatar. The protest, which is held weekly, calls for the end of settlement expansion in the West Bank. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) opened fire on protesters using live ammunition, stun grenades, and tear gas. Eygi was critically injured and later died at Rafida Hospital in Nablus.

## Summary of the situation in At-Tuwani (West Bank): ### Context and Location: At-Tuwani is a Palestinian farming village located in the southern West Bank near Hebron, home to approximately 1,600 people. Since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, violence against Palestinian villagers has escalated dramatically. **Increased Settler Violence Post-October 7:** Following Hamas’s attack, Israel’s military presence in the West Bank increased, as well as settler aggression towards Palestinians. Settler violence, particularly by extremist groups, intensified. Incidents such as raids, destruction of property, and shootings became more frequent, aimed at displacing Palestinians from their land. Settlers have been emboldened, forming quasi-military forces and gaining new powers, such as the authority to arrest and declare closed military zones. ### Incidents in At-Tuwani: **October 12, 2023:** Settlers set up an observation post on land belonging to the Hureini family, cutting branches from fig trees and grapevines. When villagers confronted them, they were threatened with guns. **October 13, 2023:** A settler shot Zakariya Adra, a resident, in the stomach during an altercation. The shooting was filmed, and the settler faced no immediate consequences, though his gun license was revoked. **Januari 28, 2025,** A resident, Mohsab, was bringing building materials to his house with a truck when a settler approached and tried to intimidate him by saying that this building activity was not allowed. The settler then tried to use his qun to shoot the tires of the truck. On February 21, 2026, Settlers wearing the colors of occupation forces stormed the village, and attacked a neighbor of Mohammed Hureini, Mufdi Rabai and his son Majd Rabai while they were grazing their sheep on their own land. They beat Mufdi Rabai, who suffers from health problems, and left him lying on the ground for hours. They prevented ambulances from reaching him. Then they arrested my friend Majd Rabai and a solidarity activist. They shot into the air and prevented us from approaching or filming. They assaulted residents and confiscated the ambulance keys and the paramedics’ phones to prevent them from taking the Palestinian they injured to the hospital **Impact on Agriculture and Livelihoods:** Attacks on crops and livestock have become more frequent, particularly during key points in the agricultural calendar, making farming nearly impossible for Palestinian villagers. Families in At-Tuwani have struggled to harvest their olives, plough their land, or graze livestock due to threats from settlers. **Human Rights Violations and Displacement:** Since October 7, more than 1,600 Palestinians have been displaced due to settler violence and military restrictions, including nearly 800 children. Settlers in At-Tuwani continue to intimidate villagers, obstruct their daily lives, and in some cases, threaten their survival. **Settler Communities:** Nearby Israeli settlements like Ma’on and its outpost Havat Ma’on are known for their violence against Palestinians. These outposts are illegal even under Israeli law but remain active and often unregulated. Settler ideology in some areas is deeply extremist, with leaders like **Yehoshafat Tor** openly advocating violence against Palestinians. **International Legal Context:** The expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank is widely regarded as illegal under international law. The Geneva Conventions prohibit the transfer of an occupying power’s civilians into occupied territory. A July 2023 advisory ruling by the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal. **Crowdfunding and Demolitions** : In late 2022, Tor, a resident of Havat Ma’on, launched a crowdfunding campaign to pay off debts and complained about ongoing conflicts during Shabbat. He reported the theft of sheep worth about $130,000. Previously, the Israeli government had demolished buildings he and his wife built, a rare enforcement of demolition orders in illegal outposts. **Settler Violence Denial** : Veteran settler leader Daniella Weiss denied that settlers instigate violence against Palestinians, claiming that no Jew starts conflicts with Arabs. She argued that the controversy over settlers is part of a plan to create a Palestinian state, which she opposes. **Support from One Israel Fund**: The settlements of Ma’on and Havat Ma’on are supported by the U.S. charity *One Israel Fund*, which provides security equipment. Eve Harow, the fund’s tourism director, claimed these settlements prevent the creation of a “Jihadist entity” and protect Israel from potential massacres like those on October 7. **The Israeli military is closely linked to settlers**, with many soldiers coming from settlements. After the October 7 attacks, settlers were further mobilized to defend their communities. **In the West Bank near At-Tuwani, it’s often difficult to distinguish between soldiers and settler**s, as many settlers don military-style uniforms. Activists note that some settlers mobilized in recent months are more aggressive than regular soldiers, wearing far-right symbols like the Third Temple movement patch, symbolizing extremist beliefs about controlling religious sites in Jerusalem. **Betzalel Taljah's role:** Settler and Israeli military reservist. He leads a battalion responsible for security of 24 settlements, including Ma’on and Havat Ma’on. Blurs the distinction between settlers and military forces. He wears patches combining the Israeli flag with far-right symbols like the Punisher skull. Known for aggressive interactions with Palestinians and activists. He has intimidated farmers, searched phones for Gaza-related content, and used violence during confrontations. Frequently escalates tensions, often screaming and pointing his gun at Palestinians. He used to detained Palestinian shepherds and declared their grazing land a closed military zone for 30 days, depriving them of essential resources. **Historical context :** Since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967, settlers have focused on expanding control, particularly in Area C, under full Israeli military authority. Many settlers believe they have a religious right to the land, while others move for economic reasons. Dror Etkes of Kerem Navot estimates settlers have taken over 37,000 acres of Palestinian land since October 7. In response to rising settler violence, the international community, including the U.S. and EU, has imposed sanctions on several settlers and groups. [https://ig.ft.com/west-bank/](url)