South Hebron Hills

Ahmad Nawajah holding the Oscar won by the film No Other Land, in Masafer Yatta, the occupied West Bank, March 25, 2025. (Courtesy of the family)

In Masafer Yatta, we need more than awards — we need protection

‘No Other Land’ exposed the world to our struggle. But as settlers and soldiers escalate their attacks after the Oscars, our existence hangs by a thread.

By Ahmad Nawajah April 8, 2025

Hamdan Ballal, left, and Rachel Szor, winners of the award for best documentary feature film for "No Other Land," attend the Governors Ball after the Oscars in Los Angeles, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Must the Palestinian have an Oscar for the world to care when he’s attacked?

We can't accept the rules of recognition set by the very powers that dispossess us, especially the idea that our success is what makes us worthy of protection.

By Sleman Altehe March 25, 2025

Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, and Yuval Abraham pictured at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles after their film "No Other Land" won the Oscar for best documentary, March 2, 2025. (Jordan Strauss/AP)

Make no mistake: ‘No Other Land’ is a victory for the Palestinian struggle

While some have accused the Oscar-winning film of normalization, leaders and activists in Masafer Yatta are unwavering in their support for joint resistance.

By Samah Salaime March 7, 2025

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Israeli army forces demolish Palestinian homes and property in She'ab al-Bottom in Masafer Yatta, in the West Bank, July 8, 2024. (Basel Adra/Activestills)

Our film is going to the Oscars. But here in Masafer Yatta, we’re still being erased

As the world watches ‘No Other Land,’ Israeli settlers are raiding and burning our villages while soldiers arrest us, abuse us, and demolish our homes.

By Basel Adra February 10, 2025

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

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