Believe it or not a Palestinian family of seven members is still living in a cave in Masafer Yatta in al-Khalil in the West Bank that lacks the necessities of life such as electricity clean water and even clean air.
However they are still adamant on living in the cave and protecting their fathers’ lands despite the Israeli threats.
Ashraf Saleh said that he rejects to leave the cave because if he did he will lose his fathers’ lands forever.
Ashraf said he is obliged to leave his family at night for work despite the Jewish settlers’ threats.
“My children are forced to walk alternative long distances (to reach school) to avoid settlers’ attacks” he added.
Ashraf has documents proving his ownership of the land surrounding the cave but the Israeli occupation refuses any construction plans in the area under the pretext of the military drills.
He pointed out that he was subjected along with his family members to multiple attacks by Jewish settlers from the nearly illegal settlements under Israeli occupation forces’ protection.
Fouad Al-Amour coordinator of the local “Protection and Resilience” committee confirmed that Israel is working to evacuate the area for settlement expansion.
The Israeli civil administration systematically prevents Palestinians from their basic human needs including water networks electricity and even solar energy in an attempt to force them to leave their lands he said.
Al-Amour called on Palestinian and international institutions to support the steadfastness of the people in the Masafer Yatta area in face of the Israeli displacement policy.
