In the early morning hours of Monday, 25 January 2021, Khalaf al-‘Abayat (38), a married father of six, set out to graze his flock in the area around his home. At around 8:00 A.M., while he was in the pastureland, two settlers who were grazing their flock near the settlement outpost of Ibei Hanahal with two dogs in tow attacked him.

The settlers threw stones at al-‘Abayat and his flock, and some goats were hit and began fleeing the area. At that point, the settlers set their dogs on the flock. After an attack that lasted several minutes, four more settlers arrived from the direction of the settlement of Ma’ale Amos and also started throwing stones at al-‘Abayat and his flock.

al-‘Abayat called the Israel Police to report the attack as he tried to duck the stones and get away from the settlers. About 15 minutes later, a police officer and four soldiers arrived, drove the settlers away, and detained al-‘Abayat for about an hour on the grounds that he did not carry his ID card with him. Meanwhile, the flock scattered and moved away. About an hour later, al-‘Abayat’s brother Fadi arrived, gave the officer the requested ID card, and left to search for the flock. An assessment of the damage revealed that the stones thrown by the settlers had injured three pregnant goats.

The police officer ordered al-‘Abayat not to graze his flock in the area, including in the open area east of Kisan and the settlements. He also threatened that if he violated his order, the flock would be confiscated.The next day, in the early morning hours, Fadi al-‘Abayat took the flock out to graze in the Wadi Sa’ir area, about three kilometers west of the settlement and the outpost. At around 11:00, two settlers who were standing by the roadside on the upper part of the valley attacked al-‘Abayat and tumbled rocks at him and his flock. al-‘Abayat gathered the flock and took it back to the village.

In a testimony he gave B’Tselem field researcher Musa Abu Hashhsash, Khalaf al-‘Abayat recounted his attack by settlers:

I raise livestock and graze a flock of 100 goats. My mother, my wife, and my brother Fadi help me. I usually take the flock to graze in the hills close to my home, where the settlement of Ma’ale Amos and the outpost of Ibei Hanahal were built. I always try to avoid the settlers’ territory.

On 25 January 2021, I went out as usual to graze the flock. When I passed through the area between the settlement and the outpost, on the way to the open area far from both, two settlers who had been hiding inside the outpost’s vineyard suddenly appeared. They were also grazing their flock in the area. They started throwing stones at my flock, and some goats were hit and fled south. The settlers unleashed two dogs who ran after the flock. I managed to dodge most of the stones. But within minutes, four more settlers arrived. They came out of a tent they’d set up at the edge of Ma’ale Amos, about 200 meters from the vineyard. They also threw stones and chased after the goats.

I called the Israel Police. After 15 minutes, a police officer and four soldiers arrived and tried to separate me and my flock from the settlers. One soldier asked for my ID card. I told him it was at home and he demanded that I bring it. I called my brother Fadi and asked him to bring it. The soldiers detained me for about an hour until Fadi arrived after he had tried to locate the flock that had moved far away. The officer told me I wasn’t allowed to come back with the flock to the open area where I usually graze it and that if I did, he’d confiscate my flock. I don’t understand on what grounds he said that and don’t know what I’m going to do now because I have no way to raise the flock without taking it out to pasture. I can’t afford to buy expensive fodder all the time.

After the soldiers released me, I returned home and waited for Fadi, who came back with the flock about two hours later. He said the flock had moved more than two kilometers away towards Wadi Sa’ir. I checked on the goats and discovered that stones had hit three pregnant goats. I hope they’ll be OK.

In a testimony he gave B’Tselem field researcher Musa Abu Hashhsash, Fadi al-‘Abayat described his attack by settlers the next day:

After Khalaf updated me that the officer had warned him not to come back to where we usually grazed our flock and threatened to confiscate it, I took it the next day to Wadi Sa’ir, far from the settlements. At around 11:00 P.M., while we were in the pastureland in the valley, I suddenly saw large rocks falling in my direction. When I looked up, I saw a white vehicle standing on the road on the valley's upper part. Next to it were two settlers who were tumbling large rocks into the valley to the area where I was grazing the flock. I decided to go home because I was afraid that the flock or I would get hurt.

The village of Kisan lies about 500 meters from the settlement outpost of Ibei Hanahal, established in 1999, and about a kilometer from the settlement of Ma’ale Amos, established in 1980. 

On the night of 21 January 2021, at around 10:30 P.M., about eight settlers arrived in two cars at the village of Jinsafut. They blocked the eastern entrance to the village and advanced on foot into the eastern neighborhood, where they stoned the first house on the street, which belongs to the Bashir family, and two cars belonging to the family. The settlers shattered five windows in the family's home, punctured both cars' tires, and smashed a side window in one car.

Members of the family, who saw the attack from their window, went outside. The settlers fled back to their cars, which they had left at the beginning of the road leading to the village.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Yusef (23), a veterinarian from the village, was trying to get home. As the settlers' cars were blocking his way, he waited in his car until they returned and cleared the lane. On their way out, the settlers noticed Yusef and seized the opportunity to cause more damage. They smashed his windshield and a side window, got into their cars and drove off towards of the settlement of Immanuel.

After the settlers left, the Bashir family and other residents blocked the village's southern entrance with boulders to stop the settlers from returning, and called the Israel Police. About half an hour later, police officers and soldiers arrived. The police collected statements, photographed the damage, took samples of the stones and left the area.

In a testimony he gave B'Tselem field researcher Abdulkarim Sadi, 'Alaa Bashir (39), a father of five from Jinsafut, recounted the settlers' violent invasion into his neighborhood:

We were at home with my brothers, who were visiting, and my wife Khulud was getting the kids ready for bed. Suddenly, I heard a stone hit the window of the children's bedroom. Khulud looked out the window and yelled that she could see settlers throwing stones at my car, which was parked by the house. I went outside immediately with my brothers, and we saw the settlers running towards the eastern exit of the village, which is about 200 meters from our home. We saw two cars parked at the beginning of the road leading to the settlement of Immanuel.

We ran after them but couldn't catch them. I found out they'd smashed my van's side window and punctured all of its tires.

In a testimony he gave B'Tselem field researcher Abdulkarim Sadi, Muhammad Yusef (23), a married resident of Jinsafut, described how settlers attacked his car while he was sitting inside:

On Thursday night, 21 January 2021, I drove home from work. When I got to the eastern entrance to the village, I found two cars blocking the road. I honked and flashed my headlight at them so they would move out of the way, because I didn't know they were settlers' cars. If I’d known, I would have turned around and taken a different route home.

Suddenly, a group of about four or five settlers appeared with stones in their hands, and started throwing them at my car. I was terrified and shielded my head with my hands. They smashed the left side window and all the bits of glass landed on my head and face. They also smashed the windshield, but luckily it didn't shatter to pieces. The attack lasted about a minute, and then the settlers got into their cars and left.

What happened to me was horrible. It never crossed my mind that settlers would come all the way to our homes and attack us. There was nowhere to run. I'm still in shock and anxious because of the attack.

A few seconds after the settlers left, people from the village came and blocked the entrance with boulders to protest against the attack. I'm not optimistic and don't believe the military and the police will do right by us. I don't believe they’ll catch those settlers and punish them.

The settlement of Immanuel was established in the 1980s about two kilometers southeast of Jinsafut.

.

On Sunday, 17 January 2021, at around midday, the three daughters of the Qut family – Alma (4), Masah (6) and Hala (10) – were playing by their house, which lies on the southern edge of the village. Their mother, Wiam (30), was inside with her two-month-old daughter and nine-year-old son. The father, Shaher (34), was at work in Israel.

Suddenly, several masked settlers appeared and started throwing stones at the three girls from several dozen meters away. Masah was hit in the leg but managed to run home and get her mother. The mother came out and found Hala lying unconscious on the ground, after a stone had hit her in the face. As the settlers continued throwing stones, hitting Wiam in the leg, she took the girls inside and washed Hala's face. Meanwhile, the settlers continued to throw stones at the house, breaking a kitchen window and a bedroom window.

The settlers fled when Wiam's brother- and sister-in-law, who live next door, arrived with a friend. The sister-in-law and friend took Hala to Rafidya hospital in Nablus, while Hatem, Shaher's brother, stayed with Wiam and her children. In hospital, Hala was examined, given first aid for the swelling in her face and discharged. Three days later, she returned for X-rays that revealed her nose was broken and her upper jaw fractured. The doctors determined she would need surgery to fix her nasal bones and replace a damaged tooth with a dental implant.

Like most Palestinians who live in the villages near the settlement of Yitzhar, the residents of Madama suffer repeated attacks by settlers. In 2020 alone, B'Tselem documented three settler attacks on residents' homes, including an attack on another home of the Qut family.

In a testimony she gave B'Tselem field researcher Salma a-Deb'i, 10-year-old Hala Qut described how settlers attacked her with stones:

I was playing out front with my two sisters when suddenly, I heard voices coming from the direction of the hill. I turn to look and saw a man with a mask throw a stone at me. I fell over. When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. I could hear the doctor saying my name. I really scared. I didn't understand where I was and didn't know what to do.

I don't remember anything about the man except that he was huge and tall. His face was covered and all I could see were his big eyes. I didn't know he was a settler. I thought he was from the village. Later, I was told they were settlers who’d thrown stones at us and at our house. I’ve asked my parents to sleep in their bed because I'm afraid they'll come back and attack us again.

I can't sleep at night. Whenever I close my eyes, I see that settler. The angry look in his eyes haunts me.

In a testimony she gave B'Tselem field researcher Salma a-Deb'i, Wiam Qut recounted the settlers' attack on her daughters and home:

On Sunday, 17 January 2021, around midday, I was doing chores around the house. My baby Lucinda was asleep in my bedroom and my son Karam (9) was playing indoors. My three girls were playing out front, as they do every day.

Suddenly, Masah came in holding her leg and yelled, "They hit me with a stone!" I asked, "Who hit you?" and she said, "People." I went to the doorway and saw my daughter Hala lying on the ground about six meters away. I ran over to her, calling out her name, but she didn't answer. When I reached her, she still didn’t respond because she’d passed out. Her nose and mouth were bloody. I saw several masked people throwing stones at us and realized they were settlers.

Two stones hit me in the right leg and I grabbed Hala by the shoulders, because I can't lift her, dragged her inside and shut the door. I washed her face and wiped off the blood, because I didn't know where she was bleeding from. Meanwhile, I heard stones hitting the walls of the house and glass shattering. A few minutes later, the stones stopped and all I could hear was the sound of my terrified children crying.  

My brother-in-law Hatem, who lives next door, came over with his wife and a friend. My sister-in-law and the friend took Hala to hospital in Nablus, because I couldn't leave the kids alone. Hatem stayed with us, because he was afraid the settlers would come back. My husband works in Israel and gets home late.

I was so scared that I completely forgot Lucinda was sleeping in her cot in the bedroom. I ran over to her and was shocked to find two large stones and broken glass on my bed. Thank God Lucinda was safe and sound in her cot, because she often sleeps in my bed during the daytime. That day, I put her to sleep in her cot, I don't even know why. If she’d been sleeping  in my bed, she would have been hit for sure – if not by a stone, then by the broken glass that flew in. I picked her up and she was still sleeping like an angel. I started crying over what had happened to us with no warning. It’s the first time settlers have come so close to our home, and it was terrifying. They usually attack homes in the village and try to take over land, but they’ve never come as far as this into the village, because people notice them and drive them away.

Hala came home about three hours later with her father, who went from work straight to the hospital. That night and for the following two nights, she refused to sleep in her bed and slept in ours. She's terrified. We all are. Since the incident, my husband has come back every night and hasn’t stayed overnight at his workplace.

My husband covered the broken windows in the kitchen and bedroom with plastic sheets/nylon. It was freezing that night, and we all suffered.

Three days later, we took Hala for a checkup at the hospital. They X-rayed her and found that she needs surgery for her broken nose. She also has a fracture in her upper jawbone and a broken tooth, and she'll need an implant. She's scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, 27 January 2021. When we got back from hospital, Hala was very nervous about the surgery and burst into tears. I tried to calm her down, of course, but she's a little girl and it's a very hard for her.

The settlement of Yitzhar was established about a kilometer from the Qut family’s home.

On Sunday, 10 January 2021, settlers scattered spikes along a-Dhahrat Road and drove iron rods into it. The road, which runs about a kilometer east of the village of Turmusaya, is used by Palestinians only. Palestinians who passed by gathered the spikes and removed the rods, but apparently missed some in the dark.

The following morning, the tire of a Palestinian-owned truck driving along the road was punctured by one of the remaining rods.

On 4 January 2021, at around 3:00 A.M., eight settlers invaded the southern neighborhood of the village of Sarta, northwest of the town of Salfit. They stoned homes and parked cars, smashed three windows in two homes and hurled a stun grenade at one of the homes, damaging an outer wall. They also smashed two windshields and a side window of two vehicles parked in the area and damaged their tires. Their actions were recorded by a nearby security camera.

In testimonies they gave B'Tselem field researcher Abdulkarim Sadi the day after incident, the victims described the attack:. Mustafa Khatib (62), a married father of five, recalled being woken by a stone that hit the window by his bed:

A few months ago I had a heart attack. I haven't fully recovered and haven't gone back to work yet. Since my heart attack I've been sleeping in the living room.

On Monday morning, I woke up and stayed in my bed, which is by the window overlooking the main road. I heard noises and an explosion outside, and then a stone hit the window. It didn't penetrate it but got stuck between the glass and the bars. I got such a fright that I fell out of bed. I crawled away from the window. Meanwhile, my wife came into the living room and I asked her not to go near the window.

At the same time, my son Ayman, who lives in a room on the roof, came downstairs quickly because he thought our cooking gas tank had exploded. I told him to be careful and not go outside because there were people throwing stones and explosives. Ayman and I went up to his room to see what was happening. We saw two masked settlers running towards the olive grove on the southern side of the village.

Mustafa's wife, Sharifah Khatib (55), also told B'Tselem what she recalled of that night:

After Mustafa and Ayman went up to the roof to check what was happening outside, my daughter Hala (17) woke up in fright because of the explosions outside and the stones being thrown at our home. I tried to calm her down, but she was too terrified. After a few moments, Mustafa and Ayman came down and said they’d seen the settlers running away and that the neighbors had gone outside. So we also got up the courage to go outside and see what had happened. We found the tiles on the house’s outer wall charred and a stun grenade lying on the ground in front of the house. We also saw glass shards from the windows they’d smashed. The settlers smashed the windshield of my husband's car and damaged its tires.

In his testimony, Mukhtar Sarsur (35), a father of four, recalled:

On Monday, 4 January 2021, at around 3:00 A.M., I was in bed but hadn't fallen asleep yet. Suddenly, I heard two explosions in our neighborhood. I got up and went to the window overlooking the entrance to the house and the street, and saw four people with masks. Two of them were standing in front of my cousin's house, throwing stones at a car parked out front. The other two were throwing stones at my car, which was parked in front of our home. I immediately went to the children's room to check on them and saw that they were asleep. The neighbors went outside and so did I. I found my car's rear window and side window smashed, and three of its tires damaged.

On Thursday morning, 31 December 2020, three farmers from Sinjil went to their land, which lies north of the village. The three had planted about 170 seedlings of olive, fig, apple and loquat trees and grapevines a week earlier. When they got there, they discovered that settlers had uprooted about 20 of the seedlings and sprayed the rest with pesticides.

The settlement outpost of Haro’eh was established about a kilometer and a half from the land.

On 28 December 2020, at around 8:30 P.M., ‘Ali Dawabsheh (33), a married father of three from the village of Duma in Nablus District, was driving home with two relatives. When the car neared the Huwarah (Yitzhar) Junction, the three saw dozens of settlers blocking the road, with dozens of soldiers and Border Police officers guarding them. The settlers threw stones at Dawabsheh’s car and smashed its right rear window. Dawabsheh stopped the car and got out, but a Border Police officer ordered him to get back in. He obeyed, and then the settlers surrounded his car and started kicking it until the security forces drove them away, at which point Dawabsheh drove home.

The next day, Dawabsheh replaced the window at a cost of 500 shekels (~155 USD).

In a testimony he gave B’Tselem field researcher Salma a-Deb’i, ‘Ali Dawabsheh recounted the settlers’ attack on his car:  

On Monday, 28 December 2020, at around 8:30 P.M., I was driving home from Tulkarm with my two cousins, Saed (40) and Muhammad (31). When we got to Route 60 (near Huwarah/Jit) and were about 30 to 50 meters from the junction, I suddenly saw about 40 settlers blocking the road. There were also about 25 to 30 soldiers and Border Police officers there.

I was nervous and didn’t know what to do. Settlers who were on the right side of the road threw stones at my car and smashed the right rear window. Luckily, Muhammad, who was in back, was lying on the backseat with his head tilted left, otherwise he would have been badly injured.

I got out of the car, and one of the Border Police officers ordered me to get back in. I said to him, “Did you see what they did?” He answered in good Arabic, “It’s good that it ended that way and nothing else happened.” Then he ordered me to get back in the car. I did what he said, and then the settlers, who had gathered around the car, started kicking it. The soldiers made them move away and surrounded the car, and one of the police officers motioned me to drive on. Even though the soldiers were there, the settlers kicked the car a few more times until I got to the Huwarah Junction road, and from there continued to Huwarah.  

I stopped by the roadside and we cleared the shattered glass from the car. Muhammad’s clothes were covered in glass. Thank God no one was hurt. Then we drove on home to Duma.

The soldiers didn’t call the police and didn’t refer me to file a complaint. It all happened before their very eyes, and they didn’t lift a finger.

Since 16-year-old Israeli Ahuvia Sandak died during a police chase near the settlement of Kochav Hashachar on 21 December 2020, the number of violent settler attacks against Palestinians has sharply risen throughout the West Bank.

On 26 December 2020, at around 6:00 P.M., thousands of settlers protested in front of the National Police Headquarters on Road 1 in East Jerusalem. About three hours later, dozens of settlers began pelting homes and parked cars in the neighborhood of Abu Ta’ah in the French Hill with stones. Four neighborhood residents came out to protect their homes and threw stones back at the settlers. Officers who arrived at the scene several minutes later, pushed the settlers back, but not before they managed to break a window in one of the homes and the windows of two cars.

Residents of nearby neighborhoods who arrived at the scene stayed on the street until 1:00 A.M. to protect the residents.

Muhammad Abu Ta’ah, 55, a married mother of five who lives in the French Hill spoke about the settler attack in his neighborhood in a testimony he gave B'Tselem field researcher 'Amer ‘Aruri:
On Saturday, 26 December 2020, at around 6:00 P.M., settlers started demonstrating on Road 1. At around 8:00 P.M., settlers arrived in our area and stood in front of the neighborhood. I saw them blocking the street on both ends, in front of the white statue, and attacking cars that were passing by - apparently cars they thought belonged to Arabs. They were shouting, “death to Arabs.” There was a large police contingent there.

At around 9:00 P.M., the settlers started throwing stones at the neighborhood. The two closest houses to Road 1 in the neighborhood are ours and my cousin’s Muhannad Abu Ta’ah. Muhannad and I went out to see what was going on, and two residents from the neighborhood joined us. We threw stones back at the settlers to get them away from our homes. It was only when the police saw us throwing stones back at the settlers that they intervened.

Asmaa Siyam, 51, Muhammad’s wife and a mother of five, who lives in the French Hill, spoke about the settler attack on her home and neighborhood in a testimony she gave B'Tselem field researcher 'Amer ‘Aruri:

On 26 December 2020, I was at my house in the Abu Ta’ah neighborhood in the French Hill. My daughters Israa, 30, and Razan, 22, and my son, Suhayb, 15, were with me. My husband stood outside and watched the settlers’ demonstration in front of the National Headquarters.

At around 9:00 P.M., I heard my husband yelling and crying out for help. I came out with my daughters and my son and saw my husband, our neighbor Muhannad Abu Ta’ah and two others, and about 50 settlers who had entered the neighborhood. My daughters started yelling and screaming, and Suhayb was also very scared.

We tried throwing stones back at them to protect our homes. There were only four of us, and 50 settlers in front of us with hundreds more on the main road, in front of the neighborhood, shouting “Death to Arabs.”

I felt that they were about to kill us.

A few minutes later, police officers came and pushed the settlers away. My husband stayed standing in front of the house to protect it and refused to come inside. I stayed with him, and more residents came and stood by our side. Thank God they only damaged one window in our house and a few cars parked on the street.

The settlers left the area at around 1:00 A.M., but we didn’t fall asleep until 5:00 A.M., as the sun went up. We were really worried the settlers would come back. A few friends and relatives stayed with us for three days after the attack, in case the settlers attacked again.

Since 16-year-old Israeli Ahuvia Sandak died during a police chase near the settlement of Kochav Hashachar on 21 December 2020, the number of violent settler attacks against Palestinians has sharply risen throughout the West Bank.

On 23 December 2020, at around 10:00 P.M., about 30 masked settlers arrived at the southeastern neighborhood of Jalud, a village in Nablus District, and pelted homes and cars with stones. The settlers broke a security camera and the windows of three cars. Local residents chased them and they escaped towards the outpost of Ahiya. About half an hour later, five soldiers came to the village from the direction of the outpost. They spoke with locals and took photos of the damage done to the cars. In the meantime, the settlers returned and ignored the soldiers’ instructions to keep away. The soldiers called in Border Police forces, and when they arrived about 30 minutes later, the settlers again fled towards the outpost. The forces then left, and a military jeep was posted on the outskirts of the outpost. Village residents remained out in the street until the small hours of the night to protect their property, and then returned home.

Na'im Farah ‘Abbad, a 36-year-old married father of five from Jalud, spoke about the settler attack in a testimony he gave B'Tselem field researcher Salma a-Deb’i:

On Wednesday, 23 December 2020, I was visiting my parents with my wife Rana (28) and our children (eight months to 12) in the southeastern part of the village.

At around 10:00 P.M., we were sitting in their home chatting and drinking tea, when I heard noises outside. I went out and saw 10-15 settlers by my car. They took off when they saw me, and I discovered they’d broken all the windows. I heard my cousin Muhammad, who lives near my parents, yelling: “Settlers! Settlers are breaking cars!” I followed him with some other cousins of mine, and I saw about 30 settlers running towards the outpost of Ahiya. It looked like they’d split into two groups – one damaged my car, and the other damaged Muhammad’s car.

We ran after them but kept about a 200-meter distance, because we were scared they’d shoot us. They ran off, and we went back to our homes. Because of the yelling, all the residents of the neighborhood came out of their houses. When I got back, my wife was outside, too. She told me my mother had fainted, apparently from the stress and fear. She’s a diabetic and has high blood pressure. My brother Nassim and I drove her to hospital in Nablus, where they examined her and then released her.

Muhammad ‘Abbad (37), a married father of six from Jalud, also spoke about that night in a testimony he gave B'Tselem field researcher Salma a-Deb'i:

About half an hour after the attack, while we were still standing outside, about five or six soldiers came from the direction of the Ahiya outpost. They asked about what happened and took pictures of the cars. One of them spoke Arabic well, and they left soldiers in a military jeep around to keep watch.

While the soldiers were in the village, the settlers came back and got up to about 100 meters away from our houses. The soldiers yelled at them but didn’t stop them from approaching. They called a Border Police force, which came about half an hour later. It was only then that the settlers left. The soldiers and Border Police officers left the village and kept a military jeep on the outskirts of the outpost.

We stayed in the yard and didn’t go back inside until 3:00 A.M. It was cold and by then, I couldn’t see the jeep anymore. It must have driven off.

We’ve been on constant alert ever since that day, afraid of another attack. I can’t sleep at night. I’m worried they’ll surprise us and this time, torch the cars or one of the houses. Thank God the kids were asleep during the attack; otherwise, they would have been very frightened. I asked my wife not to let them play in the yard or in the village with other kids, like they usually do.

The outpost of Ahiya was established in 2015 about a kilometer away from Jalud.

Since 16-year-old Israeli Ahuvia Sandak died during a police chase near the settlement of Kochav Hashachar on 21 December 2020, the number of violent settler attacks against Palestinians has sharply risen throughout the West Bank.

On 22 December 2020, at around 10:00 P.M., Iyad Hamuda, 42, a father of six from the village of Kharbata al-Mesbah was driving on Road 60. As he approached the Salfit intersection (Ari’el University), Hamuda drove past a police cruiser, and then, dozens of settlers pelted his car with stones, breaking the front windshield and side-view mirrors. The officers did not intervene.

Hamuda kept driving for about 100 meters until he reached two police cruisers and a military vehicle that were pulled over by the side of the road. He stopped to report the incident, but they signaled for him to keep driving.

Hamuda’s windshield and side-view mirrors were repaired the next day for several hundred NIS.

In the testimony he gave B'Tselem field researcher Iyad Hadad, Hamuda described the settler attack on his car in the presence of police and military and the indifference shown by police officers in the area:

I was driving my car home to Kharbata al-Mesbah, Ramallah District, on Road 60.

I approached the Salfit (Ari’el University) intersection, which branches out of Road 60. When I was 100-200 meters away from the intersection, I saw about six or seven Israel Police and military vehicles and dozens of settlers. I slowed down and kept driving. I passed a police car that was parked about 20-30 meters ahead of the intersection, and the officers never warned me or said anything. They let me fall prey to the settlers.

After I passed the police car, I found myself surrounded by settlers. They were spread out in the middle of the road over more than 100 meters. They were holding signs and flags, and some had sticks and bats. They were in a rage and started throwing stones at my car. One stone hit the front windshield and cracked it. I was terrified, and I didn’t know what to do. I put my head down and kept driving. I drove about 30 or 40 meters, with stones hitting the body of the car, especially on the left. The two side-view mirrors were damaged.

After about 100 meters, I came across two police cars and a military vehicle, and I told them what had happened.  The officer in the driver’s side seat instructed me to keep driving.

I drove another 30 meters, and then I saw officers stopping cars driving in the opposite direction. There were about 20 vehicles there. I stopped and warned the drivers.  

I drove on for about three kilometers, until the a-Sawiyah intersection, and pulled over there. I called the Israel Police and complained about what happened and about the police and military being around and doing nothing. They suggested I file a complaint at the Ari’el police station and asked if I needed an ambulance. I said I didn’t and that I couldn’t drive back to the station. The lady told me to go tomorrow.
I was very scared because it was very difficult to see through the cracked windshield, and so I drove slowly and carefully, and it took me more than an hour to get home. My family was waiting for me at home, very worried. That night was a nightmare, like a horror movie. Thank God I wasn’t hurt and came out of it in one piece.

Since 16-year-old Israeli Ahuvia Sandak died during a police chase near the settlement of Kochav Hashachar on 21 December 2020, the number of violent settler attacks against Palestinians has sharply risen throughout the West Bank.

On 21 December 2020, at around 4:30 P.M., Islam ‘Awadallah, 23, a resident of the village of ‘Attil, arrived at the Sarra-Jit junction.  He was driving his truck, on route to Tulkarm, with a passenger, Ahmad Badran, 23, from Tulkarm. ‘Awadallah was planning to turn onto Road 55, but when the truck arrived at the intersection, the two noticed Palestinian vehicles that had taken that turn were turning back. Settlers had blocked the road near the settlement of Kedumim. ‘Awadallah was not able to make the U-turn due to the size of his truck and continued driving north on Road 60. As they approached the entrance to the settlement of Shavei Shomron, they came across dozens of settlers who began pelting the truck with stones, breaking its windshield and side windows. Fearful, ‘Awadallah and Badran abandoned the truck in the middle of the road and fled on foot. They waited for about an hour, and when they returned, they found the truck in a ditch by the side of the road with its four front tires punctured.

‘Awadallah had to drive the truck with the punctured tires to Deir Sharaf, where he was able to change them. He replaced the broken windows the next day. The total cost of the repairs surpassed 3,000 NIS (nearly 1,000 USD).

In a testimony he gave B’Tselem field researcher Abdulkarim Sadi, Islam ‘Awadallah described the settler attack on his truck:

I’m a truck driver, and I drive to the Sha'ar Efrayim commercial crossing every day, load the truck and distribute the goods to stores in the West Bank.

On that day, I was riding with a work colleague, Ahmad Badran. At around 4:30 P.M., we were driving back from Nablus on Road 60. When we got to the Sarra-Jit intersection, I was going to turn onto Road 55, but we suddenly noticed that cars that had made the turn were making a U-turn and heading back. When we asked the drivers what happened, they told us settlers were blocking the road to Qalqiliyah near the settlement of Kedumim.

I couldn’t make a U-turn because of the size of the truck, so I just kept going straight on Road 60. I was going to turn onto Road 557 and drive toward Tulkarm. As we came closer to the entrance to Shavei Shomron settlement, I again saw Palestinian cars stopping, turning around and heading back towards Nablus. As soon as I started slowing down in order to stop, dozens of settlers attacked the truck with stones.

Ahmad, who was sitting next to me, opened the truck door and fled, running, towards Nablus. The settlers kept throwing stones at the truck, breaking the front windshield and side windows. I was very scared. I also opened the door and abandoned the truck with the engine still running. I ran in the direction of Nablus and Deir Sharaf.

I ran for about 500 meters until I found Ahmad and some other drivers, who had gathered on the western part of Deir Sharaf. We waited there until the army came and opened the road after about an hour.

Ahmad and I decided to go back to the truck, but when we got to the spot where we’d left it, it wasn’t there. We found it near the road, with the tires in a drainage ditch by the side of the road. In addition to the broken windows, its four front tires were punctured. I still drove it to Deir Sharaf to get the tires changed.

About half an hour later, at around 5:00 P.M., Sadeq Khatatbeh, 24, who was driving with a friend from Tulkarm, where they work, home to Beit Furik, also arrived at the entrance to Shavei Shomron. Dozens of settlers, some of them masked, attacked their car with stones as well. One stone shattered the driver’s side window and entered the car. Khatatbeh was hit in the head, above the right eye. He kept driving for about 100 meters, and then pulled over, got out of the car, walked a few steps and fell down. A passing car stopped. One of its passengers got into Khatatbeh’s car and drove him and his friend to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus. Khatatbeh was examined and x-rayed, and doctors treated the scratches on his face. He was released after about two hours.

In a testimony he gave B'Tselem field researcher Salma a-Deb’i, Sadeq Khatatbeh described his injury and the settler attack on his car:

I was driving home with a friend from work from the construction site where we work in Tulkarm. As we approached the entrance to the settlement of Shavei Shomron, we suddenly saw 20-25 settlers on the left side of the road, most of them masked. They threw stones at us. I heard a very strong thud and felt glass flying into my face. I couldn’t see anything in front of me, but I kept driving.

About 100 meters farther down the road, I could barely open my right eye. I pulled over on the shoulder. I opened the door and went out. My head was hurting, and blood was dripping down my face and clothes. I couldn’t feel my face at all. I took only a few steps forward and then fell down.
In the meantime, a car that had come from the direction of Tulkarm stopped, and the young guys in it helped me and put me back in my car. One of them got in and drove the car because Yusef can’t drive. They took me to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus.

I was x-rayed, and the wound on my face was treated. Yusef, who was in shock, and I, stayed at the hospital for about two hours and then went home.

Thank God we didn’t get hit by the stone that got into the car. It’s still there. We were saved from certain death, but I’m concerned because I still can’t see well, and I’m worried my eye was damaged. The area has since swollen, and I have a blue bruise on my face.

Since 16-year-old Israeli Ahuvia Sandak died during a police chase near the settlement of Kochav Hashachar on 21 December 2020, the number of violent settler attacks against Palestinians has sharply risen throughout the West Bank.

On 21 December 2020, at around 6:00 A.M., Muhammad a-Tmeizi, 34, drove his truck with a trailer hitched to it. His cousin Mahmoud a-Tmeizi, 13, was in the truck with him, and the two were making their way home to the village of Idhna, Hebron District. When they arrived at the neighborhood of Giv'at Haharsinah in the settlement of Kiryat Arba, they came across dozens of settlers who were blocking the road and signaling drivers to turn around. A-Tmeizi couldn’t make the turn due to the size of his truck and stopped in the middle of the road. Several minutes later, a police cruiser arrived, and the officers started pushing the settlers away from the road. One officer signaled to a-Tmeizi to drive on, and a police cruiser escorted him for several hundred meters until he left the area.

He kept driving until the entrance to Beit ‘Einun, where he noticed several settlers crossing the road. He slowed down, and the settlers began throwing stones at him. One penetrated through the front windshield, hitting 13-year-old Mahmoud in the face. A-Tmeizi himself received scratches from the glass shards. The settlers, meanwhile, ran off, and he continued driving until he came across a police cruiser and military jeeps at the Road 35 intersection to whom he reported the incident.

A-Tmeizi then drove to al-Ahali Hospital in Hebron, where Mahmoud was examined and x-rayed and had his forehead stitched. The two were released from hospital at around 11:00 P.M.

In a testimony he gave B’Tselem field researcher Manal al-Ja’bri, 13-year-old Mahmoud a-Tmeizi, recounted the attack:

I’m an eighth-grader. Schools are closed now because of the coronavirus, and I’m bored sitting at home all the time. I started working with my cousin, Muhammad a-Tmeizi, hauling.

On Monday, 21 December 2020, at around 6:00 P.M., we were riding in his truck to Sa’ir. When we got to Road 60, before the Harsina gas station, we saw about 30 settlers blocking the road. They were gesturing to drivers that the road was closed. We couldn’t turn back because the truck has a trailer.  Muhammad kept driving slowly, and then a police car came, removed the settlers and signaled to him to keep driving. The police car drove in front of us until we were away from the settlers. We thought we were out of danger and kept driving toward Sa’ir.

Before we made it to the Beit ‘Einun traffic circle, we saw some more settlers crossing the road. Muhammad slowed down, and then suddenly, the settlers started throwing stones at the truck. I was really scared and started crying and screaming. I locked the truck doors from the inside and then a stone got in through the front windshield and hit my head. Glass shards flew and hit my face. I started bleeding.

Muhammad stopped the truck, and when the settlers saw that, they ran away. I was crying and groaning with pain, and Muhammad got me out of the truck to check on me. He wiped the blood off my face, and we both shook the glass shards out of our hair and off the truck seats and drove to the hospital in Hebron.  

In a testimony given to B’Tselem field researcher Manal al-Ja’bri, Muhammad a-Tmeizi described what happened after the attack.

When we arrived at the Beit ‘Einun traffic circle, I saw two Israel Police cars and Border Police jeeps by the side of the road. I stopped the truck in the middle of the road; I literally blocked the road, got out and walked over to the officers, along with Mahmoud, whose forehead was still bleeding. They didn’t give him any first aid, just suggested we drive to the hospital and file a complaint at the Kiryat Arba police station. I unhitched the trailer from the truck, left it by the side of the road, and quickly drove to al-Ahali Hospital in Hebron, where they took care of Mahmoud’s injuries and gave him x-rays. We left the hospital at 11:00 P.M.

On Monday morning, 21 December 2020, Subhi (32) and Walid (35) Shalaldeh were out grazing their flock on pastureland they own in the area of al-Qanub, about five kilometers east of Sa’ir, in Hebron District. Israel has declared this land ‘state land’ and allocated it to area settlements, including the settlement of Asfar (Metzad) established in 1983 about three kilometers from the family’s home.  

At around 1:30 P.M., a vehicle with several settlers arrived. About 15 minutes later, they were joined by an ATV with four settlers, who were armed with handguns and had two dogs with them. The settlers hurled stones at the flock and set their dogs on them. Two of the settlers also attacked Walid Shalaldeh. The two brothers, who feared for their lives, gathered their flock and ran back towards their home.

Meanwhile, a family member called their parents, Muhammad (73) and Zuhour (66), and told them what had happened. The parents started running towards the pastureland. When they had gone about 70 meters, they saw their sons come running after the flock, with the settlers chasing them in the vehicle and the ATV. While Muhammad Shalaldeh was asking the settlers about their actions, the ATV driver hit his son Subhi, knocked him to the ground and drove over him again and again until Subhi blacked out.

At that point, Muhammad picked up a stone to throw at the ATV driver in order to protect his son, but the settler who was driving the other vehicle got out and pushed the ATV driver out of his seat.

Immediately afterwards, the settlers left. The family called the UN office and asked them to send an ambulance, which arrived about 15 minutes later and took Subhi to ‘Aliyah Hospital in Hebron. He was X-rayed and examined, and found to be suffering bruising. He was discharged at about 4:00 P.M.

In a testimony he gave B’Tselem field researcher Manal al-Ja’bari, Subhi Shalaldeh recounted how the settlers attacked him and his brother and drove them out of the pastureland:

On Monday, 21December 2020, at around 1:30 P.M., my brother Walid and I were tending to our sheep on our land, about two kilometers away from our home and about five kilometers from the settlement of Metzad. A car with several settlers stopped next to us and we saw one of them talking on his mobile phone. He was probably calling more settlers to come.

About 15 minutes later, an ATV arrived with four settlers in their twenties. They had two huge, unleashed dogs with them. The moment the settlers reached us, they released the dogs, who started chasing the sheep. The settlers also started throwing stones at the sheep.

Two of the settlers attacked my brother Walid – slapping, punching, and kicking him. Walid and I didn’t even try to defend ourselves, because four or five of them had handguns and we were afraid they’d kill us. We tried to gather the scattered sheep and led them home. We thought the settlers had left.

In a testimony she gave B’Tselem field researcher Manal al-Ja’bari, Subhi’s mother, Zuhour Shalaldeh, described what happened next:

On 21 December 2020, I was sitting with my husband in front of our tents. Suddenly, a relative called and told us that settlers were attacking Subhi and Walid, who were out with the flock. My husband immediately called Walid, who answered the phone and said that settlers were attacking them and that they had dogs. Then he stopped talking and didn’t answer our questions, although he was still on the line. We heard shouting.

My husband and I ran towards the pastureland but after we moved about 70 meters away from the house, we couldn’t go on. We were out of breath and exhausted. My legs hurt and I couldn’t stand. We could see our sheep running towards the house from the area we’d reached, and then we saw Walid and Subhi running behind them and trying to control them.

Before Walid got a chance to tell us what happened, a car with three settlers armed with handguns drove up, followed by an ATV with two settlers and two huge dogs. My husband blocked the first car’s path and ask the driver for his name. The driver said his name was Ibrahim, and then my husband started talking with him and asking him why they’d attacked our sons.

At the same time, the ATV driver suddenly drove towards Subhi and hit him. Subhi fell on his back and then the ATV drove over him a few times, with the wheels going over both sides of his body, mostly hitting his arms and legs. Subhi fainted and the settler kept driving over him. He did that about three times. I froze at the sight. I cried and screamed and covered my face with dirt. Then I saw my husband pick up a large stone to throw it at the ATV driver, but the settler who called himself “Ibrahim” grabbed the driver and knocked him out of his seat. The ATV rant into the settlers’ car and turned off.

My husband and I picked Subhi up to get him away from there. He was unconscious and his clothes were torn. We took him about 20 meters away and laid him down by the roadside. The settlers got in their cars and fled. My husband called the UN office and asked them to call an ambulance. We live in a remote area and there’s no one who can help us. About 15 minutes later, a Red Crescent ambulance arrived and took Subhi to ‘Aliyah Hospital.

I’m still in shock. My whole body is in pain from the sight of the ATV running over my son. I can’t let go of it. I burst into tears whenever I remember that sight. Of course, I’m sad over both my sons and what happened to them. Subhi  still doesn’t feel well. His whole body is in pain.

On Sunday morning, 20 December 2020, Hilal Daraghmeh (28) and his cousin, both residents of Khirbet ‘Ein al-Hilweh, were out grazing their cattle in the area of Um al-‘Ubar. The pastureland lies about 100 meters west of Route 90.  

At around 8:00 A.M., after the two split up, about five settlers approached Hilal Daraghmeh and started driving his cattle away so they could graze their flock in the area. His cousin, who saw what was happening, grew frightened and led his cows away. Meanwhile, one of the settlers went over to Daraghmeh, hit him in the head, and kicked him until he lost consciousness and fell over. The settlers then left, and Daraghmeh’s cousin hurried back to him and called for help. A military vehicle and an Israeli ambulance arrived, and the medical team gave Daraghmeh first aid. About an hour later, a Red Crescent ambulance arrived and took Daraghmeh to hospital in Tubas, where he was examined and discharged.

In a testimony he gave B’Tselem field researcher ‘Aref Daraghmeh, Hilal Daraghmeh described how the settlers attacked him:

I live in the area of Khirbet ‘Ein al-Hilweh and recently got married. I go out every morning with my cousins to graze my cows.

On 20 December 2020, my cousin and I went out with the cows as usual to the area of al-‘Ubar, which is about three kilometers from my home. My cousin was grazing his herd about 100 meters away from me.  

Suddenly, I saw several settlers I know, most of them from the settlement of Hemdat. They graze their herds there in the morning, too. They went over to our cows and started driving them away.

One of them came up to me, hit me in the face several times, and kicked me in several parts of my body until I blacked out. When I came to, I saw a military jeep arriving and then blacked out again. I woke up in an Israeli ambulance and felt dizzy. They transferred me to a Red Crescent ambulance that took me to hospital in Tubas, where I was examined and X-rayed. I was discharged a few hours later.  

We’ve been grazing our cows here quietly for many years, but in the last few years the settlers have started taking over the area and building outposts around us. They started grazing their herds in our pastureland. They have a lot of cows, which they spread out over the entire area and prevent us from accessing many places. They put up fences and closed off thousands of dunams of pastureland. Every day, they chase us, and sometimes they attack us. We’re forced to graze our herds along the sides of the main roads. It’s dangerous, but we have no choice.

The military stands by them, protects them and helps them drive us out of the pastureland. Sometimes the military even detains us for hours to stop us from going there.

The settlement of Shadmot Mehola was established about two kilometers northeast of the pastureland where Daraghmeh was attacked.

On Saturday morning, 19 December 2020, Rawhi a-Na’asan (69), a father of 17, discovered that settlers had broken 40 five-year-old olive seedlings he had planted in his plot. This is not the first time a-Na’asan has faced damage to his crops: on May 2020, he discovered 52 broken seedlings in his plot, a day after soldiers invaded it, threatened a farmer who was working in a nearby plot and drove him away from the area.

A-Na’asan’s plot lies east of the Alon Road (Route 458).

On 18 December 2020, at around 11:00 A.M., about 60 residents of Kafr Malik held a demonstration against a new outpost that settlers set up in early November 2020 near the community of Ras a-Tin, which lies southeast of the village. The outpost occupants have been attacking and harassing farmers and shepherds in the area and scaring them off the land. The residents hold weekly protests in the area. On 4 December 2020, soldiers fatally shot ‘Ali Abu ‘Alia (14), while he watched a protest against the same outpost near his village, al-Mughayir.

This time, the residents gathered at a farm near Ras a-Tin and started marching towards the outpost, which lies about two kilometers away. Within minutes, two vehicles arrived and about eight masked settlers got out, carrying clubs. One of them fired several gunshots at the protesters.

The residents dispersed and moved away. At that point, a military jeep drove up and three soldiers got out. They tried to separate the settlers from the residents, but did not detain the settler who had fired the shots, although they saw him walking around with his gun drawn and residents informed them that he had fired at them. 

Meanwhile, two other vehicles drew up with eight more settlers, who had two large dogs with them. Two of the settlers grabbed the dogs by the leash and ran towards the protesters, making threatening motions, while the soldiers tried to block their path. Several residents began throwing stones at the settlers to fend off the dogs. Later on, four other military jeeps drove up. Soldiers got out and started hurling stun grenades and firing tear gas canisters at the residents, until they drove them all out around midday.

In a testimony he gave B’Tselem field researcher Iyad Hadad, Yusef Ka’abneh (28), a married father of four who owns a farm in the Ras a-Tin area, described the protest and the settlers’ attack:

Since a settler set up an outpost about two kilometers from our homes, he and his friends have been harassing us, grazing their flocks on our land and provoking us. He wears a skullcap (kippah) and I think he’s armed. A gang of criminals live with him – about eight to ten young guys in their twenties.

On the morning of 18 December 2020, I was grazing my flock about two kilometers from my farm when I saw the weekly protest procession heading there. I left the flock to graze and went quickly back to the farm, because I was afraid a confrontation would develop with the settlers and that my family would get hurt. The protesters were holding signs and waving Palestinian flags. Meanwhile, I saw two cars set out from the outpost in our direction. About eight settlers got out of it, holding clubs, and walked over until they were about 30 or 40 meters away from us. Three of them hid behind our tractor and one of them drew a gun, held it in both hands and started firing shot after shot. Thank God he didn’t hit anyone. Everyone ran and hid the moment the shooting started.

A few minutes later, soldiers showed up. They always come quickly to protect the settlers. The soldiers stood between us and the settlers. The settler was still holding his gun and didn’t seem to fear the soldiers. His friends tried to go round them and attack the protesters. Meanwhile, more settlers showed up, two of them leading large, scary dogs. They tried to chase the protesters and set their dogs on them, and the soldiers tried unsuccessfully to keep them away.

After another few minutes, back-up forces arrived and the soldiers started firing tear gas canisters at the protesters, who scattered quickly. Luckily, the wind was blowing in the opposite direction, so the gas didn’t reach my family and me. Meanwhile, more and more settlers kept arriving, and the military didn’t block their way.
Since that incident, we’ve been even more afraid of the settlers. We’re scared they’ll attack us at any time and we’re always on edge. These settlers are violent and extreme. They’ve attacked people in the area many times. I pray that Allah will protect us from their evil.

On the morning of 18 December 2020, Muhammad al-Harini, 54, a father of seven from Yatta, was grazing his flock with his father, Khalil, 78, who lives in the community of Wadi a-Rahim in the South Hebron Hills, on family land adjacent to the community’s home. The land stretches over some 400 dunams.

While the two were out in the pastureland, about 20 settlers appeared, some with firearms, others with bats. They demanded the two leave the area and threatened them. One of the settlers pushed Khalil al-Harini, knocking him over. His son Muhammad called B’Tselem’s field researcher, who alerted the police. Moments later, a military vehicle, a police car and a Civil Administration officer arrived. The latter told both the landowners and the settlers they were not permitted at the site and everyone left.

The next morning, Muhammad al-Harini returned to the family land with four other relatives to plow. Having plowed about 20 dunams, they saw about 20 settlers approaching and decided to leave and return to the community to avoid a dangerous encounter.

Driving away the locals was not enough for the settlers who followed them up to a distance of about 20 meters from the community’s homes. The family blocked their path. The settlers threatened them, attacked four community residents, injuring one, a 17-year-old boy, in the ear with a stone. One settler fired several shots. Fortunately, no one was hurt. The frightened family members called B’Tselem’s researcher again. He alerted the police, which arrived a few minutes later, with a  military jeep escort. The settlers then ran off.

A police officer took a statement from the boy who had been injured, and his relatives drove him to Abu al-Hassan Hospital in Yatta, where he was diagnosed with an injury to the auditory canal and ossicle.

In a testimony he gave B'Tselem field researcher Musa Abu Hashhash, Muhammad al-Harini spoke about the second settler attack on his family:

On Saturday 19 December 2020, I went to our land, which is near the houses in the community, with my brother ‘Amer, 38, and his three sons, Mahmoud, 17, ‘Ali, 20, and Saqer, 19, to plow the fields. We had plowed about 20 dunams and then saw settlers heading towards us. We didn’t want an altercation, so we went back to the family home in the community.

The settlers followed us up to the houses and stopped at a distance of about 20 meters. They started threatening us and tried to advance further. We went out and tried to block them. There were more than 20 settlers there with handguns, rifles, bats and crowbars. I saw my nephew, ‘Ali, 20, filming the incident on his phone. A settler approached him and hit him in the face with his handgun. Mahmoud, 17, tried to break them up, and the same settler hit him in the left ear with a stone he had in his other hand. Mahmoud’s ear started bleeding and he lost his balance.

My brother ‘Amer and I went over to them, and then one of the settlers kicked me in the back and another threw a stone that hit me in the arm. Another settler kicked ‘Amer in the chest and knee. We fought them for about half an hour, throwing stones at them to drive them off. One of the settlers fired about ten shots with his handgun. I called Nasser Nawaj’ah from B'Tselem and asked him to call the police, and a few minutes later some military vehicles and a police car arrived. That’s when the settlers ran off.

We went to our land. The police officers and soldiers were there, and a settler, whom we know by the name of Ya’aKov, came with another female settler. The officers spoke with them and told us  to go home. Ya’aKov brought a tractor driver with him who started plowing the same plot we had plowed that morning. He was filming the tractor as it was plowing. The officers and soldiers did nothing.

Mahmoud’s ear was hurting, and after a police officer took his statement, I drove him to the Abu al-Hassan government hospital in Yatta. He was examined and x-rayed and it turned out his auditory canal and nerve had been hurt. The doctor cleaned the blood from his ear and referred him to an ear, nose and throat specialist. He has been seeing a specialist in Yatta ever since.

On Sunday, 21 December 2020, the settler Ya’aKov, came to our land in an ATV and deliberately drove over plowed fields we’d already planted in. We saw him from inside our homes, but we chose not to get into an altercation with the settlers. They are armed criminals who are backed up by the military and police which arrested none of them when they attacked us.

The settlement of Susiya was established in 1983 1.5 kilometers southeast of Wadi a-Rahim.

For three days, settlers from the outpost of Mitzpe Yair repeatedly invaded five Palestinian communities in Masafer Yatta. The five marauding settlers, who are known to the communities, entered their homes and livestock pens to allegedly search for stolen sheep. The settlers shouted at the residents and threatened them. In two cases, they physically assaulted them, breaking one resident’s tooth. On the third day, the settlers claimed to have found the stolen sheep in a livestock pen in one of the communities. The Israeli police allowed the settlers to take about 10 sheep. 

The settlers’ domineering behavior continued the next day, when one of them went to the She’b al-Batem area and drove out a farmer who was grazing his flock. 

The evening of 17 December 2020: Settlers invade the community of Khirbet Bir al-‘Eid

Five settlers came to the community and claimed to be looking for stolen sheep. They placed boulders on the road leading to the community’s homes and blocked the residents’ way. When one resident tried to drive through with a tractor, one settler pulled out a gun and threatened him. The driver had no choice but to turn back and take another route.

18 December 2020, 1:30 A.M.: Settlers invade the community of She’b al-Batem, wake residents, threaten them and kick one

The next morning, five settlers came to the community of She’b al-Batem. A settler known to the residents as "Yosef" and another settler approached the home of 'Ali Jibrin (64), a father of 11. When Jibrin heard them and opened the door, "Yosef" began shouting at him, kicking his legs, and threatening to “make trouble for him” if he didn't divulge the sheep's whereabouts. Jibrin tried to explain that he didn't know where the sheep were, but the settler continued shouting and pushed Jibrin’s young children, who had woken up from the commotion and come to their father. At that point, Jibrin’s brother, who lives next door, reported the incident to the police. The settlers stayed near the family’s doorstep for about 20 minutes and then moved on to the home of his brother, Ismail Jibrin (53), a father of six. They shouted at him and threatened him, and left about 10 minutes later.

In a testimony he gave B’Tselem field researcher Musa Abu Hashhsash, ‘Ali Jibrin described how the settler known as “Yosef” threatened and assaulted him:

At around 1:30 A.M., I woke up to loud sounds of people near the entrance of our home. I went over to the door and saw two people. That night we didn’t have electricity, but one of the settlers had a flashlight, and I recognized him: he grazes his flock in the area, and his name is “Yosef.”

Suddenly, without us even talking, the settler kicked me very hard in the left leg and yelled at me in Arabic, “Where are my sheep?” I asked him which sheep he meant, and he said, “You stole my sheep!” I asked him if he’d seen me stealing them, and he said no, but that he wanted to know who had stolen his sheep.

At that moment, my four children, the eldest of whom is 16, woke up and came over to me. The settler shoved them and yelled at them to stay back. Even though he’d attacked my children and me, I tried to stay calm and not confront them, because then I would’ve been arrested. I asked my eldest son Amin (15) to run to my brother Ismail’s house and ask him to call the Israeli police. “Yosef” said he’d go to Ismail’s house himself.

In a testimony he gave B’Tselem field researcher Musa Abu Hashhsash, Ismail Jibrin recalled how the settlers also came to his house, entered it by force and threatened him:

I was woken by shouting from my brother ‘Ali’s house. Someone was shouting that he was crazy and wanted to make trouble. I recognized that it was the voice of a settler named “Yosef” who grazes his flock in the area. Everyone knows him around here. I called the Israeli police and told them what was happening, and they promised to come quickly.

I waited about 20 minutes. I didn’t know what the settler wanted from ‘Ali. In the end, I saw him leave ‘Ali’s home and come towards my house with another young settler. Both of them came into my home. I tried to stop them, but they pushed me and went inside anyway.

My whole family woke up, and the kids were scared. That night we didn’t have electricity. We use solar planes to generate electricity.

“Yosef” came up me and yelled that he was crazy and had come to make trouble, and that he wanted to know who’d stolen his sheep. I tried to calm him down, but he pushed me a few times and kept yelling at me. They left about 10 minutes later.

18 December 2020, 4:30 A.M.: Settlers invade the community of Khirbet al-Markez, assault resident, drag him to their car and question him

A few hours later, at around 4:30 A.M., five settlers drove up in three vehicles to the Hushiyeh family home in the community of Khirbet al-Markez.  Samira Hushiyeh (66) got up for dawn prayers and when she heard the settlers, she woke her son ‘Omar Hushiyeh (37), a father of three. When he opened the front door, one of the settlers punched him in the face, and another hit him in the arm with a gun butt. Two settlers dragged ‘Omar out of the house and knocked him to the ground. His mother Samira, his wife Najah (28) and their three children began crying and tried to leave the house to help ‘Omar, but the settlers who had stayed behind closed the door forcefully and blocked it.

The settlers dragged ‘Omar to one of their vehicles and questioned him about the sheep that they claimed had been stolen from them. About an hour later, the settlers released him and moved several meters away from the house, and the family managed to get out. ‘Omar’s lips were bleeding and one of his teeth was broken. The settlers stayed in the area and observed the community until the late morning hours. 

In a testimony she gave B’Tselem field researcher Musa Abu Hashhsash, Samira Hushiyeh, a married mother of 13, spoke about the settlers’ invasion:

I woke up at 4:30 A.M. to prepare for dawn prayers, and heard noises and the sounds of car engine near my home. At first, I thought it was the cars of laborers going to work or military vehicles. I woke my son ‘Omar and his wife, who were sleeping in the next room, and told them what I’d heard. ‘Omar told me not to turn the lights on and tried to calm me down.

I looked out the window and saw five people going to the sheep’s pen. They had flashlights and the headlights of their cars were also on. I understood they were settlers by their white clothes. I turned on the lights so they’d understand there were people home. I was afraid they’d hurt our sheep.

In a testimony she gave B’Tselem field researcher Musa Abu Hashhash, Samira’s daughter-in-law, Najah Hushiyeh (28), a mother of three, described the settlers’ invasion and the attack on her husband:

My mother-in-law woke us up and turned the lights on a few minutes later. Then, I heard people at the door and someone asking in Arabic, “Where’s the master of the house?” ‘Omar got up and went to the door, and I followed. I realized they were settlers by their clothes. I was terrified and stood behind my mother-in-law.

When ‘Omar opened the door, one of them punched him in the face, and the other hit him in the elbow with a gun butt and pulled him out of the house. He stopped us from going after ‘Omar and closed the door. I was shaking and screaming, and our three children woke up and started crying, too. My mother-in-law tried to open the door, but one of the settlers was holding it from the other side and wouldn’t let her open it. She yelled, “Where’s ‘Omar?” My mother-in-law, my children and I stayed trapped in  the house for about an hour.

In her testimony, Samira Hushiyeh further recounted:

About an hour later, I managed to leave the house. I couldn’t see ‘Omar and was afraid they’d done something to him. I asked one of the settlers who was standing next to the cars what they’d done to my son, and he answered in Arabic that he’d be back soon. I calmed down a little. I was standing behind the house when suddenly, I saw ‘Omar get out of one of the cars. His lips were bleeding. I went back inside with him and saw that one of his teeth was broken from the punch he got earlier. I understood from ‘Omar that after they forced him out of the house, they dragged him to their car and questioned him about sheep stolen from Mitzpe Yair. He told them he had nothing to do with it and knew nothing about it.

18 December 2020, 9:30 A.M.: Settlers invade the community of Khirbet al Fakhit and roam among livestock pens

At around 9:30 A.M., the settlers moved on to the community of Khirbet al Fakhit, where they entered livestock pens and roamed them for about half an hour until leaving empty-handed.
 
19 December 2020, afternoon: Settlers invade the community of Khirbet a-Safai al-Foqa, where they allegedly locate the stolen sheep

The next afternoon, about 50 settlers, some armed with rifles and others leading attack dogs, came to the community of Khirbet a-Safai al-Foqa. They entered the community’s livestock pens and searched for the sheep they alleged had been stolen from them. An argument developed between the settlers and the residents, including mutual shoving. About an hour later, dozens of soldiers and Border Police officers, a police car and Civil Administration personnel arrived. The settlers told the police they had found their sheep in one of the community’s pens, and the officers allowed them to take the sheep. Then everyone left.

A few days later, the resident in whose pen the sheep were allegedly found was summoned to by the police, interrogated and released without charges.

20 December 2020, 10:30 A.M.: Settlers attack a shepherd in the She’b al-Batem area

The day after the settlers invaded Khirbet a-Safai al-Foqa, ‘Issa Jibrin (44), a father of seven, was out grazing his flock about a kilometer from his home in the community of She’b al-Batem. At around 10:30 A.M., the settler known as “Yosef” from Mitzpe Yair arrived and started hitting the sheep and scattering them with a stick. The sheep scattered in alarm. When Jibrin tried to stand in front of the settler to prevent him from attacking the flock, the settler pushed him and then called for back-up. About 20 minutes later, two more settlers appeared and also started to drive Jibrin’s flock out. Jibrin moved away with his sheep and returned home.

In a testimony he gave B’Tselem field researcher Musa Abu Hashhsash, ‘Issa Jibrin related:

When the settler called “Yosef” started hitting my sheep, I stood in front of him to stop him from hurting them. He came up to me and pushed me, and then phoned somebody, probably to call for back-up. I didn’t want to confront them and preferred to just leave. I walked away with the flock and left the three settlers there. I saw them talking and pointing at me, and I was afraid they’d follow me and attack me, so I walked quickly until I got home.

I usually stay in the pastureland with the flock until the afternoon, but that day I was back by 11:00 A.M.  
 
Everyone in Masafer Yatta knows this settler, “Yosef”, because he often grazes his flock near our homes and bothers us. The Israeli police officers know him, too.

On Friday, 11 December 2020, ‘Aref Jaber (46), a married father of six from Hebron, went to his plot, which lies east of the city, along with several residents and activists to protest against a structure settlers had set up there. The neighborhood of Giv’at Harsina in the settlement of Kiryat Arba was established about a kilometer from the plot.

While Jaber, the residents, and the activists were in the plot, seven settlers arrived, some of them armed. One of the settlers fired two shots in the air. Four others began throwing stones at Jaber’s car from several meters away, smashing its rear windshield and headlights. Jaber and his companions were forced to leave the area for fear of being harmed as well.

On Sunday, 20 December 2020, Jaber filed a complaint about the assault at the police station in Kiryat Arba and fixed his car at a cost of 500 shekels (~158 USD). A few days later, Jaber went to his land with the activists, and together they dismantled the settlers’ structure.

Jaber’s land stretches over 25 dunams [1 dunam = 1,000 sq. meters], not far from the village of al-Baq’ah.

On Thursday morning, 3 December 2020, ‘Abdallah Yasin (28) discovered that settlers had cut the chain-link fence he and his family had put up around their plot to protect it from settlers and wild animals. The fence did not deter the invaders from breaking into the plot and uprooting 58 olive seedlings planted earlier this year. Yasin notified his family, the village council and the Israel Police of the incident.

About an hour after reporting the damage, Yasin went to the plot with his father ‘Ali (71). A police car, Civil Administration personnel and a military jeep also arrived and witnessed the damage to the family’s property.

The Yasin family’s plot lies northeast of the town of Yasuf. The settlement of Tapuach was established about 200 meters away from it.

In a testimony he gave B’Tselem field researcher Salma a-Deb’i, ‘Ali Yasin recounted the incident:

We used the coronavirus and lockdown period to tend to the soil. We went to the plot often to water the seedlings, until the rainy season started and we didn’t have to. We put up a chain-link fence supported by iron rods, a meter and a half high, to protect the crops from settlers and wild animals. Despite the fence, settlers invaded our plot and uprooted 45 of the 93 olive seedlings we planted this February. They also uprooted 13 of 15 seedlings in my brother Shaher’s plot. We haven’t been to the grove since the rain started in October, and my son only went back now to check on the seedlings.

An hour after we found the fence destroyed and the seedlings uprooted, a police car arrived, followed by people from the Civil Administration and a military jeep. The soldier asked us if we had any enemies. I said that didn’t make sense because the settlement’s security cameras overlook the plot, so why not check the footage? It’s completely ridiculous, and they obviously  know very well who did this. They said they’d call me if they found anything new, but I haven’t heard from them. I know everything they do is just for show, and the investigation by the authorities will lead nowhere.