Forced Displacement in Mughayyir al-Deir: Settlers Drive Out Palestinian Families
Approximately 150 Palestinians displaced amid escalating tensions in the occupied West Bank.
In the occupied West Bank, about 150 Palestinians have been coerced to leave their village of Mughayyir al-Deir, following a five-day campaign of intimidation reportedly executed by Israeli settlers under the watch of the Israeli police and military.
The situation escalated on Sunday, when settlers established an illegal outpost, comprising a basic shelter and a sheep pen, in close proximity to Palestinian homes.
By the end of the week, numerous villagers had begun relocating their livestock and belongings, dismantling the wooden and metal structures that constituted their homes.
Eyewitness accounts describe a chaotic and emotional scene, with children expressing distress as families loaded their possessions onto trucks.
Elisha Yered, identified as an unofficial spokesperson for the Hilltop Youth, a far-right group, publicly celebrated the displacement, referring to it as a successful operation against the local Palestinian population.
Yered, along with other settlers, has previously faced sanctions from the UK and the EU due to involvement in violent confrontations that resulted in fatalities.
The presence of settlers at the illegal outpost included individuals known for violent actions against Palestinians, such as Neria Ben Pazi and Zohar Sabah, both of whom are also under UK sanctions.
Reports indicate that these settlers engaged in construction activities that encroached upon Palestinian land.
Palestinians from nearby Bedouin communities reportedly came to support the affected villagers, drawing parallels to their own experiences of displacement due to settler aggression.
Activists noted that the intensity and speed of the settlers' campaign in Mughayyir al-Deir signified a concerning increase in their assertiveness.
Despite a “stop work” order issued regarding the outpost, Israeli police and soldiers monitored the situation without intervening.
This lack of action came even after previous appeals from Israeli commanders to restrict certain settlers from the West Bank due to their history of violence.
Zvi Sukkot, a far-right member of the Israeli Knesset, visited the settlement to show support for the settlers, reinforcing tensions amid an atmosphere of heightened aggression.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian family initiated legal proceedings, petitioning Israel’s supreme court for urgent intervention to halt the evictions.
An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed their operational mandate to ensure security in the region but did not address the absence of action against the settlers.
The military indicated it would respond to the legal claims during a court hearing scheduled for the following week, although it is anticipated that by then, the village will be entirely vacated.
The current displacement marks a painful chapter in the history of many affected families, as it echoes their ancestors' expulsion during the founding of Israel in 1948. This ongoing situation in Mughayyir al-Deir reflects broader issues of land conflict and human rights tensions in the region.
The situation escalated on Sunday, when settlers established an illegal outpost, comprising a basic shelter and a sheep pen, in close proximity to Palestinian homes.
By the end of the week, numerous villagers had begun relocating their livestock and belongings, dismantling the wooden and metal structures that constituted their homes.
Eyewitness accounts describe a chaotic and emotional scene, with children expressing distress as families loaded their possessions onto trucks.
Elisha Yered, identified as an unofficial spokesperson for the Hilltop Youth, a far-right group, publicly celebrated the displacement, referring to it as a successful operation against the local Palestinian population.
Yered, along with other settlers, has previously faced sanctions from the UK and the EU due to involvement in violent confrontations that resulted in fatalities.
The presence of settlers at the illegal outpost included individuals known for violent actions against Palestinians, such as Neria Ben Pazi and Zohar Sabah, both of whom are also under UK sanctions.
Reports indicate that these settlers engaged in construction activities that encroached upon Palestinian land.
Palestinians from nearby Bedouin communities reportedly came to support the affected villagers, drawing parallels to their own experiences of displacement due to settler aggression.
Activists noted that the intensity and speed of the settlers' campaign in Mughayyir al-Deir signified a concerning increase in their assertiveness.
Despite a “stop work” order issued regarding the outpost, Israeli police and soldiers monitored the situation without intervening.
This lack of action came even after previous appeals from Israeli commanders to restrict certain settlers from the West Bank due to their history of violence.
Zvi Sukkot, a far-right member of the Israeli Knesset, visited the settlement to show support for the settlers, reinforcing tensions amid an atmosphere of heightened aggression.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian family initiated legal proceedings, petitioning Israel’s supreme court for urgent intervention to halt the evictions.
An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed their operational mandate to ensure security in the region but did not address the absence of action against the settlers.
The military indicated it would respond to the legal claims during a court hearing scheduled for the following week, although it is anticipated that by then, the village will be entirely vacated.
The current displacement marks a painful chapter in the history of many affected families, as it echoes their ancestors' expulsion during the founding of Israel in 1948. This ongoing situation in Mughayyir al-Deir reflects broader issues of land conflict and human rights tensions in the region.
