Hebron: Israeli occupation authorities have issued notices to the Masafer Yatta village council, south of Hebron, announcing the seizure of hundreds of dunums of Palestinian-owned land and several key roads. This move is intended to advance the expansion of colonial settlements and integrate them with the settler road network.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Nidal Abu Aram, head of the Masafer Yatta village council, reported that the orders from the occupation authorities are aimed at seizing agricultural lands and restricting Palestinian residents from accessing or utilizing the land. This is particularly impactful on roads that connect the area's village communities.
The notices indicate that the road linking the villages of Jinba and Bir al-'Id has been seized, isolating farmers and residents from hundreds of dunums of land. This action is intended to connect the colony of Mitzpe Yair to bypass Road 317, facilitating further colonial settlement expansion at the cost of Palestinian lands.
Another order targets the road connecting the Wadi Ma'in and Umm al-Shaqhan areas, involving the appropriation of approximately three dunums of land from a local family under the guise of 'military use.' This will prevent the family from accessing nearly 700 dunums of olive groves.
Additionally, the occupation authorities have issued a notice to confiscate extensive land for a new settler road near the Giv'at Hanan colony, which was illegally established around four years ago on Palestinian family lands.
The orders also involve the seizure of an agricultural road in the Tha'ala area to connect the Havat Ma'on colony with bypass Road 317. This includes the confiscation of land belonging to a Palestinian family.
Abu Aram observed that the pace of land seizures in Masafer Yatta has increased significantly since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. He cautioned that the occupation is attempting to create a new reality by expanding colonial settlements and fragmenting Palestinian villages and communities across the region.
