SUPPORT MASAFER YATTA: Protect Communities from Displacement

My name is Amaia Rodríguez and I am part of a group of international activists working to protect the Masafer Yatta region located in the Area C of the Occupied West Bank, which is under full Israeli civil and military control. The residents are some of the kindest people we have a ever met, and a model of resilience in the face of occupation and ethnic cleansing. Their ancestors were expelled from their homes in what is now Israel in 1948. Several decades later, much of their land was confiscated by the Israeli government in order to create Jewish-only settlements in the area.

Today, the region is under constant threat of demolition and expulsion as the State of Israel seeks to confine Area C Palestinians into ever smaller areas. The residents of the settlements live in swanky modern homes with government-supplied electricity and running water; whereas the Palestinian residents lack permits to build a sufficient number of permanent structures, regularly purchase overpriced tanks for their water, and rely on donated solar panels for limited electricity. The stark contrast between the settlement and the local communities is one of the clearest views of Israel's apartheid system.

Since October 7, the situation has become worse than residents can ever remember, and the neediest families, all of whom have lost their sources of income due to Israeli travel restrictions and settler violence, urgently need our support.

At the end of June this year, the Israeli army raided the regions and destroyed many homes and structures. The new cover photo above shows a picture of a village in the area that got completed expelled by settler violence a few weeks ago.

In this context, the presence of International activists and volunteers is absolutely crucial to protect the local palestinian communities living under Israeli occupation. In this context, we are organizing a fundraiser to secure that international support can continue coming to the area by ensuring there is enough accomodation and resources.

Our Mission:

In the face of efforts to displace and erase entire communities, we stand firm in our commitment to creating an alternative and building a different reality. Our partnership and joint work with both Palestinian and international activists are a beacon of hope in these dark times. By maintaining a strong international presence and fostering local solidarity, we aim to protect the rights and dignity of the people in Masafer Yatta.

Why Your Support Matters

Your donation will help us maintain a protective presence in Masafer Yatta, allowing communities to stay on their land and resist forced displacement. By supporting this campaign, you are standing with those who are defending human rights and promoting peace and justice.

Where Your Donation Will Go

Your donations will be transferred to a trusted organization that provides on-the-ground support. Since the local residents are unbanked, the organization will withdraw the funds in cash and give them directly to village leaders to fund the hosting and accommodation of activists in solidarity. Thank you for supporting Palestinians under occupation in this urgent moment.

Stand with us in solidarity and support the resilient communities of Masafer Yatta. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a significant impact!

UPDATE: Recent weeks have seen an alarming escalation in these threats, with continuous harassment and destruction of vital infrastructure, including housing and water tanks. In the last week, the settlers are now only not attacking the local communities but also fellow activists. The activist and support networks need your help more than ever in order to continue protecting the local communities of Masafer Yatta.