The Palestinian Authority has accused the Israeli government of ramping up its campaign to uproot the Palestinians from their lands and houses in Masafer Yatta in southern West Bank ahead of building new settlements.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (MOFA) said that “the occupation forces cut off water supply lines feeding 17 communities in the region, where an estimated 1,500 Palestinians reside.”
MOFA denounced the “ongoing ethnic cleansing” for the sake of seizing the land and exploiting it for economic, housing and settlement purposes.
Head of Twaneh village council Mohammed Rebii said that Israeli forces have cut off water supplies to 17 communities in Masafer Yatta. He added that the measures come in the context of targeting citizens and their steadfastness in those areas, in an attempt to force them out of their homes, which would allow Israel to expand settlements.
Meanwhile, Oxfam, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and Save the Children have warned that hundreds of civilians, including children, will see their safety put at risk by the withdrawal of international observers deployed in the city of Hebron (TIPH).
Save the Children Regional Director Jeremy Stoner said: “Palestinian children attending schools near Israeli settler communities in Hebron have experienced threats and violence from settlers for years. The role of the TIPH and other international observers has been very important in reducing confrontations and ensuring children's safety and access to education.”
Stoner continued: “Just last week, we visited one of the schools in Hebron, and the headmistress told Save the Children that staff and students felt exposed and vulnerable without international observers accompanying the children.”
In one of the most vulnerable schools in Hebron, Qurtoba school, the military checkpoint to the institution has recently been reinforced with a guard tower and an electronic gate. This has completely severed the school area from the neighborhood of Beit Hadassa. Parents are not allowed to enter the school premises. Without international observers, the children and teachers will be directly exposed to any potential violence from settlers who live in the area.
Oxfam Country Director Chris Eijkemans said: “This move will exacerbate an already volatile situation and increase impunity for human rights abuses.”
NRC Deputy Regional Director Maureen Magee said: “Short of dismantling the system of closures, restrictions, and checkpoints affecting Palestinians in Hebron, the Israeli government is responsible for ensuring the unhindered passage of civilians, including students and school staff, through checkpoints on their way to and from schools."
“Israel must ensure that schools are protected, safe places for children. We see from our work in Hebron’s schools how children are traumatized by harassment and violence. Left unchecked, this will leave long-lasting scars,” she added.
