Hebron: Israeli colonists on Tuesday evening took over a Palestinian-owned house in the Old City of Hebron, according to local sources. They reported that dozens of colonists, under the protection of occupying forces, seized a house belonging to the Naser family near the Old City, sealing off several streets including Shalala Street.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Hebron is a city of significant historical and religious importance, housing the Ibrahimi Mosque. The city is home to approximately 160,000 Palestinian Muslims living alongside about 800 Israeli colonists. These colonists reside in compounds that are heavily guarded by around 1,500 Israeli troops.
Israel has expelled the only international monitors tasked with protecting Hebron's Palestinians from the heavily guarded colonists. This follows a history of tension and violence in the area, including a massacre in 1994 carried out by Israeli colonist Baruch Goldstein, who killed 29 Palestinian worshippers inside the Ibrahimi Mosque. The massacre led to clashes that claimed the lives of four more Palestinians.
In the aftermath of the massacre, the Ibrahimi Mosque was divided, with its larger part converted into a synagogue. This division brought about increased scrutiny on Palestinians, with certain areas being closed off to them entirely, including a significant market area and Shuhada Street.
