On the evening of Sunday, March 27th, Israeli Defense Forces from Karmei Tsur and Gush Etzion settlements entered the village of Beit Ommar. The soldiers arrested fifteen young men, then left the village.

Jameel Ahmad Za’aqeeq, 14, Allam Yousif Awad, 14, Hasan Majed Solieby, 14, Mahamad Yasir Za’aqeek, 19, Ahmad Yasir Za’aqeek , 19, Ahmad Mohamed Ehklail, 16, Ahmad Yousif Sabarnah, 18, Mohamad Yousif Sabarnah, 16, Mohamad Azzam Za’aqeek, 16, Montasir Mohamed Ehklail, 16, Ameer Alkam, 17, Mohamad Jadallah Solieby, 19, Malik Naif Solieby, 16, Shareef Fathy Abu Ayyash, 18, and Yousef Ayesh Sabarneh, 14, were all taken in the operation. No reason was given for their arrest.

The next morning, around 7:00 am, another group of IDF soldiers took … Continue reading

On Sunday, March 27, Israeli police and military forces began stricter enforcement of the recently-declared Closed Military Zone surrounding Beit Ommar. While some villagers are still allowed through, many now are regularly turned away from the roadblocks, effectively imprisoning them within the village. It remains to be seen whether emergency vehicles would be allowed to pass through.

Israeli forces are also considering a more permanent blockade. In current plans, the main gate would be moved further into the village, while cement barriers and chain-link fences would be replaced with permanent walls. The Palestine Solidarity Project has also heard of plans to encircle … Continue reading