Settlement Expansion Threatens Palestinian Village’s Basic Rights

Umm al-Khair, occupied West Bank – Residents of Masafer Yatta, a cluster of hamlets in the southern West Bank, report frequent incursions by Israeli military and settler forces into their territory.

The proximity of a newly established illegal settlement near Umm al-Khair represents a growing pattern of land appropriation in the region.

Ikhlas al-Hathaleen and her family of eight children reside in a metal-sheeted home. Their agricultural and grazing lands, located approximately 20 meters from their residence, have been occupied by an extension of the Carmel settlement established in September 2023.

Previously, Ikhlas would regularly care for the family’s sheep—feeding, watering, and milking them. This routine has become untenable due to restricted access.

She reports being denied access to the livestock enclosure for four consecutive days before receiving limited entry with military supervision. Since then, access has been intermittent, with only three visits in July.

“I check daily to ensure the sheep are alive,” Ikhlas states. “I can’t provide the care they once received.”

Access to Basic Facilities Impaired

The family’s outdoor bathroom, a short distance from their home, has also become inaccessible.

Settlers in July installed barbed wire and playground equipment near the facility to obstruct access, particularly for children and the elderly. The Israeli military subsequently designated the area as a closed military zone.

Consequently, the family has been forced to use a neighbor’s toilet, exposing them to risks while crossing a settlement-used road. Ikhlas’s five-year-old daughter was injured in such an incident last August.

“This isn’t just about sanitation,” Ikhlas explains. “It’s about preserving our dignity and normalcy within our homes.”

Settlement Expansion Accelerates

Umm al-Khair has faced intensified settler attacks since October 2023, coinciding with Israel’s conflict in Gaza and increased West Bank operations.

Settler groups, seeking territorial expansion, operate with little state intervention—often encouraged by far-right political figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

Illegal settlement growth across the West Bank and East Jerusalem continues unabated, undermining Palestinian sovereignty.

An Israeli court ordered the evacuation of the Carmel outpost in October 2023, but the military failed to act, leading to the order’s cancellation.

Palestinian residents face significant barriers to resistance. Challenging settlers risks retaliatory violence or arrest by military forces.

Khalil al-Hathaleen, head of Umm al-Khair’s village council, notes that settlement expansion has surged recently, including the Carmel outpost and road infrastructure development.

Land seizures have reduced livestock ownership from 3,000 to 700 heads. Over 1,000 olive trees have been cut, 50,000 square meters of farmland appropriated, and 14 homes demolished or marked for demolition.

“Losing land here means losing centuries of cultural and economic heritage,” Khalil states.

Hisham al-Sharbati, a researcher at the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center, confirms systematic violations of international law through these actions, which restrict livelihoods and basic services.

Children Affected by Violence and Fear

Ahmed al-Hathaleen, a local resident documenting settler abuses, has compiled 1,500 videos and 1,200 photos since April 2025.

“Photography and video are our tools to share this reality,” he says, noting that his three children are profoundly impacted.

Sahm Khalil al-Hathaleen, a 12-year-old boy, describes disrupted education and perpetual anxiety. “I wake up terrified by noises outside,” he adds.

“Children here desire safety and normal play,” Ahmer explains. “But they can’t escape the settler presence.”

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