‘There is no other country’: Palestinian Bedouins forced out of hiding in Gaza war | Israel-Palestine Conflicts News

The Palestinian Bedouins of the West Bank do not have time to wait for Israeli Jews to turn against their government’s policy towards them.

Instead, they rely on their tenacity – or, in Arabic, “sumud”. This name reflects the Palestinian’s sense of focus on their land, and their historical rights.

It is a name that has become a target for the Palestinian people, which has led many Bedouin to remain on their land despite ongoing abuse.

Many tried to return to their villages even after their belongings were stolen and their homes were destroyed, as Abu Bashar and a few men from Wadi as-Seeq did repeatedly. They have tried, time and time again, to return to the remains of their homes, empty animal pens and stolen solar panels, but to no avail.

Ekhlas Kaabneh, 25, is from the Bedouin East Taybeh community in al-Mu’arrajat. Ekhlas’ family symbolizes the resilience of Palestine: Although the settlement is only a few meters away, the family is determined to stay and continue their Bedouin life, alone, despite the fact that their entire community has been driven out.

Ehlas waters the plants in front of his house, which are made of sheets, and smiles at his flowers. “These flowers have bloomed even though it is very hot this year,” he said. They always remind me to be strong; we should be.”

The Ekhlas community was partially evacuated two years ago and completely evacuated after October 7. The family lives alone on a mountain slope bordered by olive trees to the north and west. To the east there are large agricultural areas that reach Jericho, which were inhabited and farmed by Bedouin families until 2017, when they were expelled by the settlers, their agricultural lands were taken and settlements were built in their place.

“The immigrants stole our information. [They live] like the Bedouins, who work in herding sheep and cattle, although they live in the country without a single animal… They stole our livestock, which is among the best in the world, we inherited from our ancestors,” said Ekhlas, the smile on his face faded.

Several Bedouin and Israeli activists said that settlers in the new settlements since 2015 deliberately dress like Bedouins, build tents and herd livestock. Passers-by usually cannot see them without talking, as they do not know Arabic.

Ehlas and his family continued to face attacks. Last year, on March 29, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, he was beaten in his sleep and woke up with pepper sprayed in his eyes. He could only hear the cries of his two sisters and younger brother as their house was destroyed by the settlers.

“After that terrible night, we started to be afraid… every day I sleep with a stick next to me in case I get attacked again. I always have nightmares about that night that makes me wake up in fear,” said Ekhlas.

Besides the settlers, Ehlas faces the threat of Israel itself. His family was issued with a eviction notice, on the grounds that their home was built in Area C without a permit – which is notoriously difficult to obtain for Palestinians.

Area C makes up about 60 percent of the West Bank and is the main focus of the illegal settlement business. Area B is under joint Palestinian-Israeli control and Area A is under the administration of the Palestinian Authority (PA). In Area C, where Israel maintains full control including security and zoning since its occupation in 1967, there are at least 325,500 residents in 125 settlements and 100 settlements. An estimated 180,000-300,000 Palestinians live in Area C, including 27,500 Bedouin, according to the United Nations.

The late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat issued a decree in 2002, establishing the Colonies and Walls Countermeasures Commission (CWRC) to deal with illegal settlements.

“Its main task is to support the Palestinians in Area C by rebuilding their homes and even having workers stationed among them for a period of time to help resist and document the violations of the residents,” said Younis Arar, head of the international relations department. director in Bethlehem.

Arar himself has been arrested by Israeli authorities several times while defending Palestinian homes and injured his foot after a settler ran over him with a car.

“Since October 7, 26 Palestinian communities and villages east of the West Bank and Jerusalem, and south of Hebron, have been completely evacuated and confiscated, but we are doing everything possible to stabilize the remaining residents in their area,” it said. Arar.

“We cannot do anything else, the world cannot send tap water to Gaza under the massacre, and we in the West Bank are alone in resisting the takeover. We have nothing else to do but our drugs.”

It’s a decision Ehlas knows all too well.

“If we take a step back, they will take steps forward with their reforms,” ​​he said. “We have no other world.”

This story was produced with the Internews Earth Journalism Network.