Southern Hebron Mountains: Everyone on the roof is a mortal

Place:

Sansana (Meitar Crossing)

South Hebron Hills

Tags:

Separation fence

Violence

Observers:

Hagit Back (report, photos)

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May-30-2021

Morning

The house in the El Power refugee camp

Photo:

Hagit Back

Hussein Atia Titi climbed onto the roof of his house in the pictured at 12.5.2021 and was killed by IDF soldiers who were ordered to shoot anyone on the roof

Shooting positions at Palestinian demonstrations

Photo:

Hagit Back

This is how a weapon exchanges words

South Hebron Hills: Anyone seen on a rooftop is to be shot to death

At Meitar Checkpoint and its surroundings attempts people are obviously trying to return
to “normal” – in the early morning it was very crowded. The car park was full and people were crossing through the hold in the fence, unhampered.

Everyone wants to make a living.

We drove for a condolence visit to the Titi family at the Al Fawar refugee camp. Their son Hussein Atiya Titi was murdered by Israeli soldiers on May 12, in the midst of the “Guardian of the Walls” aggressions.

He returned from his workday and climbed up to the roof of the house. Apparently Israeli soldiers were ‘shoot to kill’ anyone seen on a rooftop.

I consulted with M., the grocer at the entrance to the village, whether to go to the family home or not. A year ago I visited them after another of their family was killed exactly the same way…

M. thought I should not go. The family members are aching, sad, and terribly angry.

The grocery was full of children who got to see an Israeli woman apologizing…

Several of the family members came to the grocery and I offered my condolences. There is so much rage that needs to be checked, they said. It will not end as long as we do not speak.

There are many people arrested from the community, and plenty of soldiers entered homes.

There are no limits to my feeling of helplessness.

Location Description

Yata / Southern Hebron hills

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Yatta is a city located in the South Hebron Hills region. It is located in the border zone between the fertile area of Hebron and its surroundings and the desert of the Hebron Hills. Yatta has about 64,000 inhabitants. The surrounding villages are called Masafar Yatta (Yatta's daughter villages). Their inhabitants subsist on livestock and agriculture. Agriculture is possible only in small plots, especially near streams. Most of the area consists of rocky terraces.

Since the beginning of the 1980s, a number of settlements have been established on the agricultural land cultivated by the Palestinians in the South Hebron Hills region: Carmel, Maon, Susia, Masadot Yehuda, Othniel, and more. Since the settlements were established and Palestinians cultivation areas have been reduced; the residents of the South Hebron Hills have been suffering from harassment by the settlers. Attempts to evict and demolish houses have continued, along with the withholding of water and electricity. The military and police usually refrain from intervening in violent incidents between settlers and Palestinians do not enforce the law when it comes to the investigation of extensive violent Jewish settlers. The harassment in the South Hebron Hills includes attacking and attempting to burn residential tents, harassing dogs, harming herds, and preventing access to pastures.

There are several checkpoints in the South Hebron Hills, on Routes 317 and 60. In most of them, no military presence is apparent, but rather an array of pillboxes monitor the villages. Road blocks are frequently set up according to the settlers and the army's needs. These are located at the Zif Junction, the Dura-al Fawwar crossing, and the Sheep Junction at the southern entrance to Hebron.

Updated April 2022

Apr-10-2024

Muhammad D.

Sa'ir - Yael and Ahmad

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Meitar

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Sansana (Meitar Crossing)

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The checkpoint is located on the Green Line and serves as a border crossing between Israel and the West Bank. It is managed by the Border Crossing Authority of the Defense Ministry. It is comprised of sections for the transfer of goods as well as a vehicle checkpoint (intended for holders of blue identity cards, foreign nationals or diplomats and international organizations). Passing of Palestinians is prohibited, except for those with entry permits to Israel. Palestinians are permitted to cross on foot only. The crossing has a DCO (District Coordination Office), a customs unit, supervision, and a police unit.

In the last year, a breach has been opened in the fence, not far from the crossing. This breach is known to all, including the army. There does not appear to be any interest in blocking it, probably as it permits needed Palestinian workers without the bureaucratic permits to get to work in Israel. Food stalls and a parking area economy have been created, but incidents of violent abuse by border police have also been recorded.

Updated April 2022