Israeli forces demolish residential, agricultural structures as settlers attack farmers in West Bank

Israeli forces demolished two tin residential structures, a dwelling room, and a sheep barn on Monday in the Yatta Badia, south of Hebron, in the southern West Bank.

Local citizen Ahmad Nayef Al-Ataymeen said that the occupation forces raided the Wadi Al-Jarafan area adjacent to the village of Umm Qussa, accompanied by heavy machinery, and carried out demolition operations targeting two residential buildings, a brick-built room, and a sheep barn.

He added that the demolished structures belonged to the Al-Ataymeen family, which comprises 18 members, leaving them homeless.

Armed settlers also assaulted Palestinian farmers and shepherds in the Al-Rakeez area of Masafer Yatta, causing injuries which included breathing difficulties.

Settlers, under the protection of forces, also targeted sheep herders from the Aliyan Awad family in the Wadi Abu Shaban area of Masafer Yatta, firing tear gas canisters at them.

Anti-settlement activist Osama Makhameh said that Mohammed Yahya Abu Aram, 35, and Elias Saeed Al-Amour suffered from breathing issues and fainting after settlers sprayed them with pepper spray following an attack on shepherds and farmers in the western part of Al-Rakeez village in Masafer Yatta.

The casualties were reportedly transferred to Yatta Governmental Hospital for medical treatment.

Settlers also unleashed their dogs on the villagers’ livestock, injuring several animals.

Israeli forces also detained Ibrahim Mohammed Makhameh, from Huwara village in Masafer Yatta, after settlers released livestock near his home into his crops.

Settlers attacked shepherds in Al-Mufaqara village and attempted to steal livestock belonging to Fadel Al-Hamamdeh.

They also uprooted several olive trees on Monday in the town of Beita, south of Nablus. Local sources said that dozens of settlers made their way into the town and razed a Palestinian-owned area in the Hariqa Al-Hilwa area of ​​Beita, uprooting dozens of mature trees.

Settlers’ violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.

Meanwhile, Israeli occupation authorities have continued with the closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem to Muslim worshippers for the 24th consecutive day, citing security issues.

The mosque had not witnessed a full closure during the holy month of Ramadan since 1967.

Israeli forces prevented worshippers from performing Taraweeh prayers in several neighborhoods of Jerusalem during Ramadan, deploying around Damascus Gate and Herod’s Gate and forcing worshippers to leave in an attempt to disperse them and prevent any gatherings for prayer.

The closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque comes amid a heavy deployment of forces around the Old City, where occupation forces are imposing strict restrictions on movement while closing multiple gates and preventing gatherings.

These measures have also affected waqf staff, reducing the number of people allowed to enter and impacting the daily administration of the site.

The closure is part of a broader, escalating set of restrictions, coinciding with a comprehensive lockdown on the West Bank and rising regional tensions.