07/03/2026
The residents of the inner part of Masafer Yatta (the so-called 'wet' part of fire zone 918) are on the brink, and might no longer be able to stay in their villages even in the short-run. The reasons for their precarious position are explained by our colleague and friend Asi in his following update from the field.
Update regarding what is currently happening in Masafer Yatta (aka fire zone 918):
Water – Recently, the settlers closed the only pipe that brings water to the area and later cut it. The settlers damage water tanks and pour out water from the tanks located in the area. Because of the winter and the rains, a small amount of water remains in the cisterns, but this won’t last very long.
Daily harassment – Settlers enter the villages every day with herds of sheep and camels. They harass Palestinians violently, enter their homes, eat and drink their food, let their herds eat the food belonging to Palestinians’ sheep, and impose an atmosphere of terror. Appeals to the police and the army do not help, and in the end it’s the Palestinians who are arrested.
Freedom of movement -- Settlers, often with the assistance of the army, prevent the free movement of Palestinians and activists by blocking roads, chasing and harassing them, and invoking the area’s designation as a firing zone.
Planned pogroms – From time to time (at least once a week, each time in a different location), large groups of settlers arrive by car at one of the villages where they perpetrate severe violence. They kill and steal sheep, injure people, burn and destroy property, and act with complete impunity.
Grazing – A sweeping (though not entirely official) ban on grazing outside the villages has effectively been imposed. Palestinians who do take their flocks out to graze are exposed to the risk of violence, the theft of their livestock, and arrest.
Arbitrary arrests – Palestinians are arbitrarily arrested on a daily basis. Incidents of settler violence often end with the arrest of the victim. The police and the army operate in accordance with settlers’ claims, tending to believe them automatically, even when video footage clearly shows the exact opposite.
In almost all cases, Palestinians are released several hours or two days later, after enduring beatings, humiliation, and sometimes having to pay money for their release. This quick release indicates their lack of guilt and suggests that the arrests are primarily intended to instil fear and repression.
