Armed colonists attack Palestinians’ houses, steal their sheep in southern West Bank

HEBRON: Israeli armed colonists Thursday evening attacked Palestinians' houses and stole their sheep in Masafer Yatta, south of the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, according to local sources. They said that a group of armed colonists, under army protection, mounted an attack on the houses of the residents of Masafer Yatta, breaking into the dwellings of two cattle herders, holding the families into one room, ransacking the houses along with the cattle barns and wreaking havoc inside. The assailants stole a large number of the cattle. Masafer Yatta is a collection of almost 19 hamlets which rely heavily on animal husbandry as the main source of livelihood. Located in Area C of the West Bank, under full Israeli administrative and military control, the area has been subjected to repeated Israeli violations by colonists and soldiers targeting their main source of living - livestock. It has been designated as a closed Israeli military zone for training since 1980s and accordingly referred to as Firing Zone 918. Israeli violations against the area include demolition of animal barns, homes and residential structures. Issuance of construction permits by Israel to local Palestinians in the area is non-existent. Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA