HEBRON: Israeli colonists Friday assaulted an international activist in Masafer Yatta, south of the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, according to a local activist. Osama Makhamara reported that an Israeli colonist attacked an international solidarity activist to the east of the city of Yatta. The assailant was identified as coming from the nearby colonial outpost of Shim'on.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the incident also involved colonists grazing their cattle on the cultivated land and olive groves of Farid al-Hamama in Masafer Yatta. This area comprises almost 19 hamlets that predominantly rely on animal husbandry as their main source of livelihood.
Masafer Yatta is located in Area C of the West Bank, which is under full Israeli administrative and military control. The area has experienced repeated violations by both colonists and soldiers, often targeting livestock, which is the main source of living for the local population. Since the 1980s, it has been designated as a closed Israeli military zone for training, known as Firing Zone 918.
Violations in the area include the demolition of animal barns, homes, and residential structures. Palestinians in the area face significant challenges as the issuance of construction permits by Israel is non-existent, further exacerbating their living conditions.