Sheep Theft Ruins Festivities for Palestinian Shepherd
West Bank Jewish settlers stole around 45 sheep from a Palestinian family's home, leaving the family without their livelihood and income for Eid Al-Adha holiday.
Masafer Yatta: Palestinian shepherd Sameeha Rasheed was planning to sacrifice her family’s sheep for the Eid Al-Adha holiday.
However, West Bank Jewish settlers stole approximately 45 sheep from her home in a pre-dawn raid on May 21, she claimed.
Rasheed stated that before the theft, the settlers had also stolen the family’s guard dogs, which prevented anyone from alerting authorities when the animals were taken.
She expressed concern about how her family would now survive, as the income from the sheep was essential for their well-being and her husband's cancer treatment.
According to Rasheed, settlers have been frequently attacking shepherds in the region, using pepper spray on homes and children.
CCTV footage verified by Reuters shows masked men moving sheep out of the farm at night.
The Israeli military confirmed it had deployed troops to the area but did not observe any settlers.
They subsequently handed the case to the Israeli police.
The Yesha Council, which represents municipal councils of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Since the beginning of 2026, around 4,000 head of livestock have been stolen by settlers, resulting in over $5 million in losses for Palestinian farmers, according to Mahmoud Fatafta, spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture.
The theft occurred amidst ongoing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition has enabled rapid settlement expansion, with some ministers advocating for annexation of the territory.
Most countries consider the settlements, built on land captured during the 1967 war, to be unlawful.
Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical connections to the area.
Palestinians have long sought an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem territories, which were occupied by Israel in 1967.
There are currently over 700,000 settlers living among more than 3 million Palestinians in these areas, according to a 2024 EU report.
Rasheed expressed her concern about not having any sheep for the Eid Al-Adha sacrifice or to sell, emphasizing how important the animals were to their family’s livelihood.
However, West Bank Jewish settlers stole approximately 45 sheep from her home in a pre-dawn raid on May 21, she claimed.
Rasheed stated that before the theft, the settlers had also stolen the family’s guard dogs, which prevented anyone from alerting authorities when the animals were taken.
She expressed concern about how her family would now survive, as the income from the sheep was essential for their well-being and her husband's cancer treatment.
According to Rasheed, settlers have been frequently attacking shepherds in the region, using pepper spray on homes and children.
CCTV footage verified by Reuters shows masked men moving sheep out of the farm at night.
The Israeli military confirmed it had deployed troops to the area but did not observe any settlers.
They subsequently handed the case to the Israeli police.
The Yesha Council, which represents municipal councils of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Since the beginning of 2026, around 4,000 head of livestock have been stolen by settlers, resulting in over $5 million in losses for Palestinian farmers, according to Mahmoud Fatafta, spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture.
The theft occurred amidst ongoing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition has enabled rapid settlement expansion, with some ministers advocating for annexation of the territory.
Most countries consider the settlements, built on land captured during the 1967 war, to be unlawful.
Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical connections to the area.
Palestinians have long sought an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem territories, which were occupied by Israel in 1967.
There are currently over 700,000 settlers living among more than 3 million Palestinians in these areas, according to a 2024 EU report.
Rasheed expressed her concern about not having any sheep for the Eid Al-Adha sacrifice or to sell, emphasizing how important the animals were to their family’s livelihood.
