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Israeli Settlers Assault Palestinian Children, Journalists in West Bank
(MENAFN) Israeli settlers attacked journalists and Palestinian children at a community playground in the southern West Bank on Saturday, prompting the Israeli army to seal off the site as a "closed military zone."
According to activist Ahmed al-Hathaleen, who spoke to media, the assault was carried out by settlers working alongside Israeli soldiers and police, with children and journalists—including foreign nationals—targeted while gathered at the playground in Khirbet Umm al-Khair, in the Masafer Yatta region.
Al-Hathaleen described the settlers as arriving first and attacking the children directly, after which soldiers and police moved in, designated the area a "closed military zone," and forced out the children, journalists, residents, and activists present.
Israeli forces have since remained positioned inside the playground and are continuing to bar children from entering, al-Hathaleen said.
He noted that the space serves as the community's sole outdoor recreational area for children. While it has existed for years, it was recently upgraded and outfitted with new equipment.
The site carries a painful history: activist Odeh al-Hathaleen was killed there a year ago, and the location has since faced repeated attacks by Israeli settlers and military forces, according to al-Hathaleen.
He said Israel's Civil Administration issued a demolition order for the site in January, citing its location within Area C, a designation drawn from the Oslo Accords. Al-Hathaleen disputed the basis for that order, saying the land belongs to a local family that holds documentation proving ownership.
Under the 1995 Oslo II Accord, the West Bank was split into three administrative zones: Area A, under full Palestinian control; Area B, under Palestinian civil administration paired with Israeli security oversight; and Area C, under complete Israeli control. Area C makes up roughly 60% of the territory, a division that was meant to be a temporary arrangement pending a final peace settlement.
According to activist Ahmed al-Hathaleen, who spoke to media, the assault was carried out by settlers working alongside Israeli soldiers and police, with children and journalists—including foreign nationals—targeted while gathered at the playground in Khirbet Umm al-Khair, in the Masafer Yatta region.
Al-Hathaleen described the settlers as arriving first and attacking the children directly, after which soldiers and police moved in, designated the area a "closed military zone," and forced out the children, journalists, residents, and activists present.
Israeli forces have since remained positioned inside the playground and are continuing to bar children from entering, al-Hathaleen said.
He noted that the space serves as the community's sole outdoor recreational area for children. While it has existed for years, it was recently upgraded and outfitted with new equipment.
The site carries a painful history: activist Odeh al-Hathaleen was killed there a year ago, and the location has since faced repeated attacks by Israeli settlers and military forces, according to al-Hathaleen.
He said Israel's Civil Administration issued a demolition order for the site in January, citing its location within Area C, a designation drawn from the Oslo Accords. Al-Hathaleen disputed the basis for that order, saying the land belongs to a local family that holds documentation proving ownership.
Under the 1995 Oslo II Accord, the West Bank was split into three administrative zones: Area A, under full Palestinian control; Area B, under Palestinian civil administration paired with Israeli security oversight; and Area C, under complete Israeli control. Area C makes up roughly 60% of the territory, a division that was meant to be a temporary arrangement pending a final peace settlement.
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