Hebron: Israeli occupation forces on Tuesday detained a Palestinian for trying to fend off a colonist assault in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, according to an activist. Osama Makhamra reported that armed soldiers apprehended a Palestinian who attempted to confront a group of Israeli colonists. These colonists had attacked a delegation from the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) that was visiting the area.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency, the YMCA delegation was touring the vulnerable community of Wadi al-Rakhim to observe firsthand the struggles faced by its inhabitants. During this visit, the detained Palestinian also tried to stop the colonist group from allowing their sheep to graze on cultivated land surrounding his home.
Masafer Yatta, consisting of nearly 19 hamlets, primarily depends on animal husbandry as its main livelihood. Situated in Area C of the West Bank, which is under full Israeli administrative and military control, this area frequently experiences Israeli violations by settlers and soldiers that threaten their primary source of income-livestock.
Since the 1980s, Masafer Yatta has been designated as a closed Israeli military zone for training, known as Firing Zone 918. The region faces numerous Israeli violations, including the demolition of animal barns, homes, and residential structures. Additionally, local Palestinians in the area are not granted construction permits by Israel, exacerbating their plight.