Help reporting & non-violent activism in West Bank

Settlers and occupation forces have ramped up their repression of the peaceful residents of Masafer Yatta, a West Bank region where Israel is forcibly evicting Palestinians from their homes to make way for a “military firing zone” - illegal under international law. At the same time villages like at-Tuwani have been subject to persistent violent attacks by extremist Israeli settlers (often backed up by Israeli soldiers) to try to intimidate Palestinian residents into abandoning their homes and livelihoods.

Occupying forces arrest local man during a raid on the village of at-Tuwani, Masafer Yatta, Jan 2024

Activists in Masafer Yatta are refusing to be scared into leaving and are supporting local residents by being a swiftly arriving and non-violent supportive presence at settler attacks and forced evictions, documenting and filming incidents. They share these videos and accounts on social media, with campaigning groups and to news outlets, including France24 among others, to gather support and attention to what is happening here.

Armed settlers in military uniform raid at-Tuwani at night, scaring residents and assaulting an activist (circled), Feb 2024

One local activist is Mohammad Huraini, who writes:

“Hello‏, my name is Mohammad Huraini. I am 21 years old from the village of Al-Tuwani, Masafer Yatta, a residential area in the southern West Bank. I am an activist and volunteer since I was 14 years old. Since the beginning our goal is nonviolent resistance, which we have carried out despite brutality, harassment, arrests and threats from the occupation. I have been beaten and arrested many times by settlers and the army.”

Para military settlers during a raid, threatening to kill an activist who is filming, at-Tuwani, Oct 2023

With Israeli aggression ramping up following the outbreak of war - and the government issuing thousands of guns to Israeli settlers - continuing this activism has become far more dangerous and difficult to sustain. Crucially, with work permits now revoked and villages effectively sealed off, resulting in a huge loss of income, activists need funds for a better quality replacement camera, laptop and petrol money to attend incidents in the wide area - and this is where you can help!

Israeli occupation forces demolish Palestinian house, Lasaifer village, Jan 2024

Right now you can make a real difference in showing the world the reality of what is happening in the West Bank. PLEASE donate to help those who are facing forced eviction and settler attacks every day to continue their work in shining a light on Israeli war crimes in the West Bank.

"Without activists showing the world what is happening, these crimes will go unnoticed and will not stop."

You can see just some of the activist’s work at Mohammad’s Twitter page @MohammadHuraini