South Hebron Hills

The ruins of a building destroyed by settlers in the displaced Palestinian village of Khalet Khader, occupied West Bank. (Oren Ziv)

The West Bank villages wiped off the map by Israeli settler violence

Since October 7, over 50 rural Palestinian communities have been forced to abandon their homes amid intensifying attacks, threats, and harassment by Israeli settlers — almost always with the backing of the army and police.

By Oren Ziv December 4, 2024

Palestinian students pass an Israeli military jeep on their way home from school in the village of At-Tuwani, Masafer Yatta, occupied West Bank, September 28, 2022. (Oren Ziv)

In Masafer Yatta, our very right to education is under fire

Amid Israeli settler attacks, military raids, roadblocks, and an economic crisis, simply getting to school can be a challenge. But still we fight for our students.

By Mahmoud Al-Omour November 7, 2024

Palestinian activist Sami Huraini waves a flag in front of Israeli soldiers during a march in A-Rakeez, Masafer Yatta, West Bank, January 8, 2021. (Keren Manor/Activestills)

From attack dogs to prison time, this is how Israel is trying to thwart my activism

The Israeli army wants to make an example of Palestinians who protest the occupation — a campaign my village At-Tuwani has faced for generations.

By Sami Huraini October 24, 2024

Latest

Palestinians return to the village of Zanuta following an Israeli High Court ruling, after settler violence forced residents out in the first weeks following October 7, Masafer Yatta, West Bank, August 21, 2024. (Oren Ziv)

After expulsion by settlers, Palestinians embrace precarious return to Zanuta

As residents trickled back into the destroyed West Bank village following a court ruling, fear of further attacks was outweighed by the joy of being home.

By Hamdan Ballal Al-Huraini September 9, 2024

Eid al-Hathaleen stands atop the rubble of his home after it was demolished by the Israeli Civil Administration, Umm al-Khair, occupied West Bank, July 7, 2024. (Emily Glick)

In Umm al-Khair, the occupation is damning us to multigenerational trauma

I saw the first bulldozers arrive in my village 17 years ago. Now, after the most brutal weeks in our history, my son will carry similarly painful memories.

By Awdah Hathaleen July 22, 2024

Shoug Al Adara in her home in At-Tuwani, December 2023. (Emily Glick)

A settler shot my husband. Then Israel bulldozed my childhood home

Zakariyah has suffered immensely since being wounded by an Israeli settler. Yet his attacker roams free, and demolitions continue to devastate our communities in Masafer Yatta.

By Shoug Al Adara June 20, 2024

Screening of ‘No Other Land’ in At-Tuwani, Masafer Yatta, occupied West Bank, March 14, 2024. (Oren Ziv)

In Masafer Yatta, our camera can be stronger than the bulldozer

At a screening in At-Tuwani, we realized our film isn’t just sharing our story with the world, but showing our people how we are fighting for change.

By Hamdan Ballal Al-Huraini March 29, 2024

Palestinian residents of Khirbet Zanuta pack their belongings and house materials as they flee their homes following a spike in Israeli settler violence during the Gaza war, West Bank, November 1, 2023. (Oren Ziv)

‘If you don’t leave, we’ll kill you’: Hundreds flee Israeli settler violence in Hebron area

Seeing the Gaza war as a golden hour to fulfill their West Bank ambitions, Israeli settlers have chased out entire Palestinian communities in Area C.

By Imad Abu Hawash November 22, 2023

Solidarity demonstration in the Palestinians village of Susiya, in the South Hebron Hills, West Bank, June 22, 2012. (Yotam Ronen/Activestills)

Settler-soldier militias threaten Susiya with death and displacement

Like other rural West Bank communities, Susiya is being subjected to escalating Israeli assaults aimed at chasing Palestinians out of their homes.

By Hamdan Ballal Al-Huraini October 31, 2023

Ashes of beehives belonging to Youssef Al-Sarha, burned by an Israeli settler in Khirbet Widadi near Hebron, July 2023. (Imad Abu Hawash)

Even bees can’t escape Israeli settler violence

Settlers began encroaching on Palestinian land where a beekeeper had placed a colony of bees. They burned 20 hives — and forced the residents to flee.

By Imad Abu Hawash August 30, 2023

Palestinian woman using a water pipe in Masafer Yatta, in the West Bank, May 10, 2022. (Wisam Hashlamoun/Flash90)

In hottest summer ever, Masafer Yatta sears from water apartheid

Across the West Bank, Palestinians and Israeli settlers have very different access to water resources — even when they live on the same hill.

By Basel Adra August 13, 2023

Qamar Elian, a Palestinian girl from the West Bank village of Umm Lasafa, in her home after an Israeli soldier kicked and broker her ankle while her family approached their private land. (Basil Adra)

She was walking toward her family’s land. A soldier broke her ankle

Qamar Aliyan, an 11-year-old Palestinian girl, was kicked by Israeli troops while settlers roamed on her family's property in Umm Lasafa.

By Basel Adra April 4, 2023

Illustrative photo of armed Israeli settlers during a protest of Palestinians in the South Hebron HIlls, June 10, 2022. (Oren Ziv)

Armed settlers break into Palestinian family home under cover of darkness

Settlers from a nearby grazing outpost entered the home, turned it upside down, and demanded the family 'stop bringing leftists' to the area.

By Yuval Abraham March 22, 2023