AL-KHALIL, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The southern districts of al-Khalil and surrounding areas have witnessed a marked escalation in attacks by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and settlers over the past two years, with violations ranging from shootings and arrests to assaults on homes, farmers, and property.
Local journalist and resident Ikram al-Salayma reported that settlers continue to target Palestinian homes in the Jaber neighborhood and adjacent areas of the city, carrying out repeated attacks that have intensified since October 2023.
According to al-Salayma, Israel has imposed a recurring nighttime curfew on several neighborhoods, restricting movement from 10 p.m. until morning hours, in addition to a full curfew every Friday and Saturday. The measures have effectively isolated families from one another, preventing residents from checking on nearby relatives.
Children now walk to school in groups to avoid settler assaults, while parents escort them during morning and midday hours to ensure their safety.
On Sunday, al-Khalil observed a full general strike in mourning and protest after the IOF shot and killed two Palestinians, Ziad Naeem Abu Dawoud and Ahmad al-Rajabi, on Saturday in the Bab al-Zawiya area at the center of the city.
Meanwhile, the IOF carried out widespread raids and arrests across the West Bank, including in al-Khalil. A young man from the city was detained on Monday, while two others were arrested in Bani Naim and two additional residents were seized from Sa’ir in recent days.
Settler attacks on Palestinians and their property continue unabated. In the Jaber neighborhood near the Ibrahimi Mosque, settlers assaulted residents again on Monday. In another incident, settlers released their livestock onto Palestinian-owned agricultural land in the al-Maniya area east of Sa’ir, north of al-Khalil, damaging crops and grazing fields.
Human rights groups report that remote communities in southern al-Khalil have faced a surge in settler violence as part of efforts to force Palestinians from their homes and lands. Advocacy organizations say the pattern reflects an organized strategy to depopulate the area and expand settlement control.
