Alice's and her family fight against Settlers Land Theft

My name is Alice, and my family and I are the proud owners of AlMakhrour Land in Beitjala. Our land is more than just soil—it’s the heart of our family’s history, struggles, and dreams. But on July 31, 2024, armed settlers, backed by police, attempted to evict us. We stood firm in nonviolent resistance, alongside a few brave activists from Israel and the West Bank, but the soldiers sided with the settlers and violently removed us.

Despite having a legal land deed issued by the Israeli Civil Administration, the army issued a "closed military area order," allowing settlers to remain while we were forced off our land. Since then, my family, along with many dedicated volunteers, has returned daily, providing unarmed civilian protection. Every time we approached the land—on August 2nd, August 8th, and many other days—the army responded violently. Stun grenades were thrown, media personnel were arrested, and my brother Jad and I both received restraining orders.

On September 4th, over 50 soldiers came to demolish our solidarity camp. They seized our tent and even took away the remote bathroom. Yet, despite the constant attacks, we refuse to give up. We are setting up another camp to remain on our land 24/7 until justice prevails.

Our family is deeply connected to this land. In 2012, we built a home and a restaurant here, only to watch them demolished by the Israeli army in 2019. Each time we rebuilt—in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2019—we took loans that have left us in significant debt. Losing our business cost us millions, forcing us into a rented house, while legal battles drained our resources. I even suffered a motorcycle accident trying to cover legal fees, resulting in the loss of my leg.

The emotional toll has been just as devastating. My nephew, born in 2015, has watched as settlers destroyed his toys and turned the land he once played on into a place of fear and loss. This is not just about land—it’s about our family’s dignity, history, and survival.

My father, Ramzi, who built the demolished house with his own hands, is now facing a lawsuit from vendors due to unpaid cheques. When our restaurant and home were destroyed, he lost his only income and couldn’t repay his debts. The financial pressure on my family is overwhelming, and we are struggling under the weight of these debts, which have accumulated since the first demolitions.

Here is a breakdown of the debts we are facing:

Alice:

Loan (Bank Mercantil), National Insurance, House Taxes, Loan (Bank Hapoalim), Car expenses, Phone:

Total: ₪215,933 ($57,890.88)

Michelle’s Debts (My Mom):

Loan (Bank Hapoalim) and

Taxes on demolished house:

Total: ₪222,488 ($59,648.26)

Ramzi’s Debts (My Dad):

Bills for rebuilding restaurant and garden: ₪75,000 ($20,000).

New lawyer initial fees approx: ₪30,000 ($8000)

We are an Arab Christian family with Israeli and French citizenship, but despite this, we face relentless aggression from settlers and the Israeli army. Living in tents, facing demolitions, and enduring the emotional strain has made it impossible for us to work, and our debts continue to pile up.

Please, stand with us. Help us protect our land and our family. Your support—no matter how small—makes a huge difference in our fight against injustice. We will not give up, and with your help, we can continue to resist, rebuild, and survive.

Thank you for standing with us in solidarity.