UNRWA Warns of Rising Violence and Risk of Forced Displacement in Khirbet Um al-Khair and Masafer Yatta

SadaNews - Roland Frederick, the Director of UNRWA Affairs in the West Bank, warned of the concerning deterioration in the humanitarian situation in Khirbet Um al-Khair and Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, amid escalating settler assaults, intensified demolition orders, and measures threatening the imminent forced displacement of hundreds of Bedouin families.

He stated that for several years, Palestinian refugees in Khirbet Um al-Khair, located in the hills south of Hebron and adjacent to the "Karmeil" settlement, have faced harassment and violence from settlers, in addition to house demolitions and administrative measures that undermine the life of this Bedouin community that receives UNRWA services.

He added that tensions have escalated in recent days, as armed settlers entered this community both day and night, vandalizing properties and attempting to expand the settlement's fence onto Um al-Khair's lands.

He continued: "This is occurring at a time when Palestinian communities in the neighboring area (Firing Zone 918) of Masafer Yatta are facing the risk of displacement, affecting 200 families, comprising about 1,200 individuals, including 500 children. According to international law, these settlements are illegal.

Remote Bedouin and pastoral communities, such as Um al-Khair and all the communities in Masafer Yatta, face the imminent risk of forced displacement, reflecting a broader trend in the West Bank of land seizure in Area C, escalating settler violence, and increasing impunity, leading to coercive conditions that raise concerns about the forced transfer of populations.

He emphasized that Israel, as the occupying power, bears the responsibility of protecting these Palestinian communities from settler violence and holding the perpetrators accountable.

According to international law, the demolition of private property must stop, and the escalation of forced displacement must end. The right of Bedouin and pastoral communities, who have lived on these lands for generations, to live with dignity and safety must also be guaranteed.