POSITION PAPER

THE CONSEQUENCES OFSETTLER VIOLENCE AND
FORCED DISPLACEMENT
ON THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF PALESTINIANCOMMUNITIES IN AREA CMARCH 2024

Introduction
Over the course of five decades since its occupation of the West Bank,
Israel has methodically and increasingly seized control of lands in
Area C. Israel’s strategy includes the establishment of settlements,
unofficial outposts, and settler shepherding farms, all in stark violationof international law. The construction of these outposts and farms has
accelerated in recent years, starting as small agricultural enterprises
and expanding into established settlements. These efforts are the direct
extension of Israel’s territorial expansion policy in the West Bank.
The surge in settler outposts and farms has intensified the challenges
faced by Palestinian shepherding communities throughout theWest Bank. As Israel refuses to grant official recognition to thesecommunities, they remain isolated and disconnected from basic
infrastructure, including water and electricity. As such, they areparticularly vulnerable to the ever-increasing presence of surrounding
settlers. These communities endure daily oppression and coercion,
living in a state of constant fear, insecurity, distress, and systemic
discrimination. They continue to be plundered of their agriculturallands, which constitute their primary source of livelihood, while also
being denied access to natural resources and enduring physical andmental abuse from settlers and the Israeli military.
To outline the everyday reality of these communities, this position paper
adopts a broader understanding of the term “coercion,” as defined by
the 1998 Rome Statute.1 According to this definition, coercion includes
a variety of measures in addition to the use of physical force, such as
threats, psychological oppression, and abuse of power. By adopting
this perspective, the paper thoroughly examines the present conditions
in Area C of the West Bank, shedding light on the mechanisms of
oppression and coercion these communities must navigate daily.
It serves as a testament to the pervasive violence that defines their
existence and the consequent erosion of community resilience.
International Criminal Court (1998). Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (A/CONF.183/9). Article 7(1)(d). Retrieved from [https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/RS-Eng.pdf]

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This position paper is part of a broader project in collaboration with Yesh
Din- Volunteers for Human Rights, which began in 2023. The project’s
overarching goal is to enhance public comprehension of the detrimental
effects of the occupation, extending from individual experiences to thebroader oppressive environment, and to explore its impact on entire
communities and societies. The preparation of this position paper was
disrupted by the outbreak of war in October 2023 and the heightened
violence in the West Bank, thus restricting its scope. Therefore, theresearch is grounded in a dataset that includes a limited number ofinterviews, along with informal conversations and testimonies.
This position paper focuses on the influence of settler outposts and thecoercive environment on the right to health and community resilience.
It recognizes that the ongoing expansion of settlements sustains thecollective trauma endured by Palestinians as a consequence of Israel’s
expropriation and expulsion of homes, lands, and communities. By
doing this, the position paper broadens the perspective through which
the impacts of the Israeli occupation on Palestine are comprehended.
For years, PHRI’s efforts have concentrated on expanding access to
medical care and documenting the abuses faced by Palestinians
as individuals - which include torture, violence, and limited accessto healthcare services.2 More recently, the “A Life Exposed” project
expanded the perspective to the family unit level, examining theadverse effects of home invasions and private sphere violations.3 Now,
we explore the community level and how routine changes, limitations,barriers, movement restrictions, uncertain futures, and violence
fundamentally destabilize community resilience.

2
Mor Efrat (2015). “Divide and Conquer”. PHRI. https://www.phr.org.il/en/divide-conquer-newphri-report/
3
Miryam Wijler (2020).” A LIFE EXPOSED: Military invasions of Palestinian homes in the WestBank.” Yesh Din. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/files.yesh-din.org/Exposed_Life_2020/
Exposed_Life_ENG.pdf

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The everyday lives of shepherding communities in
Area C: combined institutional & settler violence
The Palestinian Bedouin shepherding communities in Area C of theWest Bank are routinely exposed to settler violence, which serves as amechanism promoting forced displacement. The various intimidation
tactics employed by Israeli settlers deprive these communities of thecapacity to predict and plan their futures. Simultaneously, they cause
severe financial hardships by blocking access to crucial resources andinfrastructure, including water, nutrition, and electricity. Palestinians
are denied construction rights on roughly 70 percent of Area C
lands, and the remaining 30 percent are subject to Israeli planning
processes, through which Palestinian construction permits are rarely
granted.4 Between 2016 and 2020, merely 24 out of the 2,550 Palestinian
construction permit requests in Area C, less than one percent, wereapproved. In addition, the Israeli Civil Administration approved only
seven of the submitted 123 Palestinian local development plans.5 These
policies result in widespread unapproved construction, which Israel
later demolishes. Given the anticipation of imminent demolitions,
Palestinians are reluctant to invest in structures that meet thenecessary standards. Meanwhile, Israeli settlements not only persist in
their expansion but also receive support from Israeli authorities.
Since 2009, Israel has demolished over 7,200 constructions in Area
C - predominantly Palestinian homes and agricultural structures.6
These demolitions have resulted in the displacement of over 9,300
Palestinians. In contrast, Israeli settlements received 8,356 housing
construction permits between 2016 and 2020, with some settlements
growing by nearly 35 percent.7 The Israeli government has incentivized
this expansion, resulting in over half a million Israelis residing in 140
Noga Kadman (2013). “Acting the Landlord: Israel’s Policy in Area C, the West Bank”.
B’Tselem. https://www.btselem.org/download/201306_area_c_report_eng.pdf
5
Norwegian Refugee Council (2023). Area C is everything. Retrieved from https://www.nrc.no/
globalassets/pdf/reports/area-c-is-everything/area-c-is-everything-v2.pdf
6
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. (n.d.). Community Driven outline plans in Area C. United Nations. https://www.ochaopt.org/page/communitydriven-outline-plans-area-c
7
Norwegian Refugee Council (2023). Area C is everything. Retrieved from https://www.nrc.no/
globalassets/pdf/reports/area-c-is-everything/area-c-is-everything-v2.pdf
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settlements and 144 outposts in Area C, marking a 17 percent growth in
the last five years.8
The establishment of settler outposts and shepherding farms has
significantly accelerated in recent years. The stated objective of thisstrategy, which has gained momentum since 2017, is to swiftly gain
control over extensive lands by establishing sheep farms – which require
far fewer resources than developing larger populated settlements.9
The lands taken over by settlers usually include grazing areas, water
resources, and cultivated lands that have sustained the Palestinian
communities residing there for generations. Typically, settlers will
forcibly enter grazing lands while threatening, provoking, and attacking
shepherds and their herds. After driving out the Palestinian shepherds
and their livestock, the settlers use the land for grazing their own sheep
and cattle.
Israel’s formal policy of restricting Palestinians’ access to their lands
and curtailing their planning and development rights is thus pairedwith informal and unchecked settler aggression, sometimes with direct
military support. This partnership creates a systemic mechanism fordisplacing Palestinians from Area C. As a result, numerous communities
have been left with no choice but to abandon their homes and flee for
their lives. Six such communities were displaced between 2021 and
2023, and since the October 7 events and the intensification of settler
violence, 16 more communities have been forced out. Within just twomonths, over 1,000 people were forcibly driven out of their homes under
threats of violence – including by those meant to protect them.
These are not instances of voluntary relocation but rather cases offorced displacement. These coercive actions undermine the resilienceand cohesion of entire communities while eroding social networks
and hindering access to essential services and sources of income.
8
Peace Now website: https://peacenow.org.il/en/settlements-watch/settlements-data/
population
9
Yonatan Kanonich (2021). “Plundered Pastures Israeli settler shepherding outpostsin the West Bank and their infringement on Palestinians’ human rights.” Yesh Din.
https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/files.yesh-din.org/shepherding+outposts+2021/
shepherding+outposts+ENG.pdf

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The experience of displacement is traumatic, and its negative impacts
are profound. This is especially true for communities in which mostmembers have already experienced displacement, expulsion, andbecoming refugees several times before. The forced displacement ofPalestinian shepherding communities represents just one facet of abroader, ongoing collective trauma endured by the Palestinian people.
This includes the erasure of entire traditions and the imposition of new
ways of life, which are difficult, if not impossible, to adapt to.

Interviews with members of Palestinian
shepherding communities
The testimonies presented in this position paper are drawn frominterviews conducted with Abu Ahmed, Abu Najah, and Abu Amjad(aliases) in August and September 2023. These three men and theirfamilies were forcibly displaced from Ein Samiya, located northeastof Jerusalem, in May 2023. After years of struggling to fight Israeli
policies and the oppressive violence of settler militias, the families
fled their homes without knowing where they were heading. The areaof Ein Samiya, once home to 270 residents, has now been completely
emptied of Palestinians after years of restrictions on infrastructure andconstruction rights, frequent demolitions, livestock theft, blocked roads,
and denial of essential resources such as water.
The conversations with these men illustrated the violent reality
confronted by Palestinian shepherding communities in Area C andthe mechanisms of oppression and coercion utilized against them. The
narratives of displacement and violence emerging from their stories area poignant reminder of the ongoing crisis in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories overall, and specifically in Area C.
Abu Ahmed was driven out of Ein Samiya in the past year, witnessing
firsthand the changes forced on his community and the resulting
challenges. His testimony highlights the ongoing struggle of thesecommunities to secure essential resources and the constant pressureof life under the threat of displacement. Abu Ahmed’s community has
6gradually lost their grazing lands and sources of water, both crucial totheir survival. The establishment of Israeli shepherding outposts not
only limited access to these resources but also exposed the Palestinian
community to settler violence, disrupting their social life and traditions
that were based on a delicate balance between preserving natural
resources and meeting human needs.
A resident of Ein Samiya for 44 years until his forced displacement in May
2023, Abu Najah’s experiences demonstrate the mental and emotional
toll of settler violence. His stories about harassment, threats of physicalviolence, and property destruction clearly convey the everyday reality
for Palestinians living in Area C. His narrative doesn’t merely revolvearound suffering and loss; it is also a tale of resilience, defiance, anda commitment to enduring hardships while upholding community
bonds. In his interview, Abu Najah described the attacks on his village,
the destruction of homes, and the theft of livestock. These tactics are
utilized by settlers, with military backing, to terrorize and forcibly drive
out Palestinian families. Abu Najah shares harrowing details of thephysical and psychological war being waged against his community.
For Abu Amjad, the challenges of navigating life amid uncertainty andthreats are a central theme in his life. In his interview, he recounts
his forced displacement and ongoing effort to uphold a semblanceof normalcy, illustrating the resilience needed to restart construction
efforts repeatedly. His story reveals the profound ways the Israeli
occupation impacts Palestinians as individuals. His displacement
experiences and his struggle to maintain land rights demonstrate thebroader political and social struggles fought by Palestinians in Area C.
His testimony exemplifies the complex reality of navigating between
state policies, territorial claims, and human rights in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories.
Collectively, the three interviews and the narratives they convey depict
a community under siege. The Israeli shepherding outposts and settler
violence carry severe consequences for the health and welfare ofPalestinians in Area C. The tangible impacts include the loss of homes
and sources of income, while the equally profound psychological7

repercussions involve traumas due to displacement, the pressure oflife under constant threat, and the pain caused by the erasure ofentire communities, cultures, and traditions. These interviews serve
not only as accounts of individual suffering but also as reflections of
the shared experience of Palestinian life amid settler violence and land
expansion. By hearing from residents of Ein Samiya, we demonstrate
how the settler outposts and everyday violence shape the determinantsof Palestinian health in Area C.

Determinants of health
1. Violence
The rising violence and intimidation carried out by Israeli settlers andthe Israeli military have profoundly affected the health and well-beingof the Palestinian shepherding communities in Area C. The interviews
conducted with residents show the direct and everyday challenges andthreats they face. This violence manifests in various forms, including
movement restrictions and stone attacks on vehicles, homes, andshepherds. They also include the invasion of homes, villages, andagricultural lands, the deliberate burning of fields and olive groves,
the uprooting of trees, and, occasionally, the deployment of Molotov
cocktails and firearms. The regular assaults they endure disrupt theirroutines and foster an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.
These tactics of terror are employed both day and night. As one
interviewee noted, the settlers “began to arrive at night, one riding
a mule and one riding a horse. They would go through the homes at
midnight, one a.m., two a.m., you see? Sometimes, they would attack
the homes and flee when we woke up.” This constant fear, especiallyat night, not only disrupts sleep patterns and induces stress but also
forces residents into a perineal state of alertness.
Such fears are often realized, as the interviewee continued to explain:“They came to set us on fire, you see? Once, they threw a Molotov
cocktail. Luckily, some residents were awake and put out the fire8

before anything happened. You can never know when these settlers
will show up.” He added the residences of the community were only
accessible by vehicle and that the central road leading to the village
was unsafe. Settlers position themselves along the road to restrict
movement and launch attacks on residents.
All interviewed community members consistently pointed out thecollaboration between the military and settlers, emphasizing how
the presence of Israeli soldiers supports settlers in executing attacks.
According to one of the interviewed residents, settlers “bring anarmy with them, and some of the soldiers are settlers themselves.
Whenever there is a conflict, and the military arrives, I see them; they
are settlers dressed in military uniforms.” The collaboration between
settlers and soldiers, coupled with the absence of protection forresidents, exacerbates the feeling of insecurity among the Palestinian
communities. According to another interviewee, the settlers operatewith impunity and receive support from Israeli authorities and militaryforces: “Residents are no longer safe. One night, they came by andstole two vehicles from Kafr Malik. They arrived dressed in militaryuniforms, took the vehicles, and left… The settlers have the final say;they call the shots and behave as they please.”
According to Yesh Din, Israeli security forces rarely confront settlers
regarding their violent actions against Palestinians. Between 2005 and2023, 93.7% of investigations into Israeli attacks on Palestinians and theirproperty in the West Bank ended without charges.10
The tactics employed by settlers to terrorize and menace Palestinian
residents are exceptionally brutal. In Wadi a-Siq, an area from which
all Palestinians were expelled after October 7, residents recounted
the provocative and violent actions carried out by settlers, such as
recklessly driving at night while honking, cursing, and laughing. As one
interviewee described: “They arrive at midnight, driving on the roads,
between the houses. They honk, laugh, and play the radio loudly.
Yesh Din (2024). “Data Sheet, December 2023: Law Enforcement on Israeli Civilians in theWest Bank (Settler violence) 2005-2023”. https://www.yesh-din.org/en/data-sheet-december2023-law-enforcement-on-israeli-civilians-in-the-west-bank-settler-violence-2005-2023/
10

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Why? To provoke us. To force a Palestinian to react and call the police,
after which the Palestinian will spend three to four months in prison,pay 5,000-6,000 NIS, and then abandon the area. That is what theywant; they provoke and agitate Palestinians to get them to leave.”
He argued that the settlers want everyone expelled, “both people andlivestock, from the lands they have taken over in Area C.” The settler
harassment often escalates into full-scale terror attacks, including
Molotov cocktails being hurled at homes, the deliberate burning of olive
groves, and live fire directed at unarmed residents.
According to another concerning testimony, settlers escorted by militaryforces entered a Palestinian residence and violently attacked a motherand her children: “Last year, settlers entered a woman’s home while
she was inside… They entered with the military, beat the woman,and broke her arm. They may have permanently injured her.” Apartfrom the direct physical harm, these incidents also inflict enduring
emotional and psychological trauma, along with adverse public healthand environmental effects. This is apparent in the account of one
interviewee, who detailed how settlers discard sheep carcasses byleaving them near the homes of neighboring Palestinians: “A settler
threw a dead sheep near the school and covered it in poison. They
also pumped the water out of the school’s tanks and stole the foodfor the livestock.”
The increasing frequency of settler violence and the cooperation of
Israeli security forces - whether by overlooking and protecting theassailants or by actively engaging in the attacks – contributes to theresidents’ sense of helplessness.

2. Lost lands and livelihoods
The Israeli outposts and settlements often lead to the loss of lands
and resources crucial to shepherding and agriculture, upon whichthese communities depend. This loss of their primary source of income
disrupts traditional lifestyles and cultural practices deeply connectedto the land. Shepherding communities in Area C face poverty andlimited economic prospects. The barriers imposed by the Israeli military,
10

including movement restrictions, exacerbate economic hardships bycreating a severe shortage of the financial resources needed to sustain
health services and secure essentials such as food and clean water.
The severe construction restrictions and the looming threat of settlers
taking over lands have resulted in extreme housing insecurity for
Palestinian shepherding communities. Most Palestinian houses in
Area C are poorly constructed and built on small plots of land. This
has led to crowding construction and a lack of access to necessities.
Difficulties obtaining construction permits and lack of infrastructureaccess, including adequate water, sanitation, and electricity, force
families to endure harsh living conditions, intensifying public healthand hygiene concerns. Moreover, the constant threat of demolition
perpetuates ongoing mental stress. These conditions contribute toeconomic difficulties, produce social instability, and undermine thewell-being and cohesion of local communities.

3. WaterSeventy percent of Palestinians in Area C lack regular access to water.
This situation is particularly dire for shepherding communities, left
isolated from water networks and forbidden from constructing wells
or developing independent water infrastructure. As a result, they areforced to buy water at a price six times higher than piped water, placing
a substantial burden on the already impoverished communities.
This water shortage is further exasperated by settlers seizing natural
resources and wells. At times, water container shipments are delayedby settlers and the military. The critically low water consumption
severely impacts the health and living standards of the shepherding
communities.

4. Access to healthcare services
Healthcare access in Area C is severely restricted. Military roadblocks
considerably prolong the travel time to medical clinics, posing
challenges for seeking emergency and routine healthcare. With a lack11

of permanently operational Palestinian clinics in the area, residents
must navigate winding roads to distant clinics or rely on mobile healthservices provided by NGOs, the United Nations, and the Palestinian
Authority. Inconsistent healthcare access adversely impacts theprovision of medical care, follow-up treatments, public health work,and disease prevention.
Furthermore, healthcare facilities in Area C are often underdeveloped andare similarly restricted by Israeli construction permits. Lastly, the availability
and quality of local health services are directly impacted by the limited
presence of health professionals, medicines, and medical equipment.

Consequences
1. Mental health consequences
The violent circumstances experienced by Palestinians profoundly affectthe psycho-social well-being and mental health of local communities.
From the moment an illegal outpost encroaches on a community,
a house is broken into, or a family member is injured or loses theirlivelihood, the community begins to lose its sense of security. Stress,
anxiety, and exposure to violence have become commonplace for thesecommunities. This constant state of fear and insecurity gives rise tonumerous challenges and consequences, including anxiety, depression,and PTSD. In conversations, residents mentioned that engaging inmost regular activities, like walking to school, traveling to the hospital,or going to work, is nearly impossible in their oppressive environment.
They emphasized that children cannot play alone without supervision
or attend school unaccompanied.
The persistent feeling of insecurity and fear, coupled with encountersof injustice and systemic discrimination, frequently materialize as
physical pain and an inability to think, eat, or find joy. When questioned
about the mental health impact of the proximity to settlers and exposure
to violence, one of the interviewees remarked: “When you lose yoursense of safety, I swear, you become constantly worried, you become
depressed, because you have lost the most precious thing. Safety is12happiness; you are happier when you feel safe…. We lost our senseof safety, and if you lose that, you lose your happiness, you lose yourinner peace. I swear to God, sometimes, when things get bad, I stopeating, even if I am hungry. The situation is bad; when you lose yoursecurity, you cannot even think of happiness, and all the thoughts
become sad because you anticipate the worst. Sometimes, I can’t
think properly because of the stress.”
The community’s collective sense of insecurity further erodes social
cohesion, a crucial element for both communal and individual
resilience. This destabilization is intensified for communities facing
systemic violence, confiscations, assaults, military surveillance andexercises, night raids, excessive use of force, and movement restrictions.
The loss of privacy and security in the private sphere also destroys themental safe space within the community, leading to a profound senseof vulnerability and helplessness and undermining the stability andsafety of the community. The ongoing military and settler surveillance
and interference fundamentally disrupt everyday routines, cultivatinga climate of fear and anxiety.
Furthermore, the enduring sense of injustice and systematic
discrimination over many years heightens the feelings of helplessness.
Rather than protect the shepherding communities, Israeli law
enforcement exacerbates their encounters with injustice andpowerlessness. As one resident lamented, “We file complaints at the
Shaar Binyamin Police Station, but they never end up in court... Even
if you bleed and everyone sees it, you will still be guilty, and the settler
will be innocent. We have become animals in a jungle.” Feelingdenied justice and lacking legal protection amplifies their insecurity
and fosters mistrust.

2. Disrupting the family unit
The routine violence, trauma, and daily insecurity lead to a constantstate of alertness and insomnia. When one of the interviewees expelledfrom Ein Samiya was asked whether he felt fear, he responded thatthey are in a constant state of fear: “I swear to God, we didn’t sleep at
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night because we were constantly expecting something to happen, tobe attacked, we were afraid for our children.” He noted that the violence
escalated in the past two years, reaching a point where settlers beganbreaking into their homes at night, posing threats to them and theirchildren. These circumstances are particularly distressing for parents asthey navigate the responsibility of protecting their children and ensuring
their emotional well-being, all while managing their own stress andanxiety: “There are settlers every 2-3 kilometers, and they come at night;
how can I protect my children at night when they show up?”
The theme of vulnerability was consistently present in our interviews
and discussions with community members, especially in light of theirinability to safeguard their families and children. It was evident thatthey live in constant fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones,
anticipating an impending tragedy. This sense of looming danger anddefenselessness was pervasive in all our interactions with community
members. One father expressed his concern for the safety of his children
and family amidst the ongoing threat of violence, stating: “What can
you do when settlers stake out in front of your house? How can you
protect your children? They beat us up when we leave on tractors tocollect water. You cannot protect someone who leaves for work at 7-8
pm; it has become unbearable.”

3. Community fragmentation and social isolation
Years of Israeli occupation and settlement expansion have eroded
the social cohesion inherent in Bedouin communities in Area C. The
expulsion and displacement of the communities have influenced theirsocio-political dynamics and weakened their social structures. As
a result, all community members have suffered the loss of sense of
security and belonging afforded by the social network. This experience ofisolation was apparent in a conversation with one community member:“We were forced to disperse; what choice was there? We only remain
in contact through phone calls; everyone has dispersed.” Apartfrom the physical separation, this social fragmentation also signifies
the erosion of collective identity and crucial social support structures14

essential for community resilience. Isolation also carries extensive
emotional and cultural consequences, resulting in individuals losing
their support systems and access to traditional community gatherings.
That which has been lost may never be recovered.

4. Deepening economic crisis
Movement restrictions and prevented access to pastoral lands andwater have stifled these communities’ primary livelihood sources.
“Devastation, there is nothing left… Devastation, we have dispersed,
we are in financial ruin; there is nothing left to fear.” The Bedouin
communities traditionally live near grazing areas and water sources,
moving locations seasonally. The seizure of lands and natural resources
and limitations on movement and land use have forced changes tocustomary lifestyles. State appropriation of lands and their subsequent
categorization as “closed military zones” or “nature reserves” haveseverely blocked access to vital resources. Discussing the mobility
restrictions and their impact on shepherding, an interviewee noted that“the sheep have nowhere to graze; they are confined within barbed
wire enclosures. This terrain is unsuited for sheep in the winter.
They will die from the cold and snow.” Palestinian shepherds have,therefore, been forced to buy sheep feed rather than allow them tograze on the expansive lands of Area C, leading to mounting debt anddeepening economic strains. These factors cause significant distressand disrupt their ways of life. As another community member noted, “It
used to be different; I used to move freely. Now, if I travel to Ramallah
for something important, I am constantly concerned about returninghome quickly. Why? Because I fear something will happen to thecommunity and my children while I am away.”
Uncertainties about the future and the possibility of attacks, property
loss, and forced displacement have grown to define the lives of thecommunities we visited. These conditions rob them of the ability toplan for their futures. When asked about the prospects for his children
and other youth in the community, one interviewee responded that
continuing the traditional livelihood of grazing, as their ancestors
15

had done for generations, would be unfeasible, given the scarcity oflands and the financial hardships forcing them to sell their sheep. The
coercive environment in which these communities reside erodes theirtraditions and practices, economic independence, livelihoods, andoverall cohesion.
The changes forced upon these communities are not temporary,
shrouding their futures in uncertainty and disrupting their naturalcommunal development. Addressing these challenges requires
significant communal and individual efforts and resources, reshaping
social structures to prioritize survival over growth and development.

Conclusion
This position paper was drafted during an unprecedented time in
the history of the Israeli occupation. Israel’s military assault on the
Occupied Palestinian Territories, particularly the Gaza Strip, hasresulted in the deaths of tens of thousands, including entire families. It
has triggered a public health crisis, the displacement of over a million
and a half people, and widespread arrests and sieges of cities andvillages. Beyond individual harm, Israeli aggression is systematicallydismantling the Palestinian family unit, community, and nation.
While prior PHRI reports focused on the impact of the Israeli
occupation on individuals and families,11 this position paper delves into
the experiences of Palestinian Bedouin shepherding communities in
Area C of the West Bank. These communities face systematic violencefrom settlers and Israeli security forces, along with forced expulsion.
Israel strategically aims to make their lives unbearable through land
expropriation, disrupting traditional lifestyles, and prohibiting theconstruction of homes, agricultural structures, and public spaces.
These communities are deprived of access to water and electricity
infrastructure and forbidden from paving roads. When they attempt
to do so out of necessity, Israel issues threats and often follows
Miryam Wijler (2020).” A LIFE EXPOSED: Military invasions of Palestinian homes in the WestBank.” Yesh Din. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/files.yesh-din.org/Exposed_Life_2020/
Exposed_Life_ENG.pdf
1116

through with demolitions. The climate of intimidation, insecurity, anduncertainty carries various psychological consequences and weakens
community resilience.
At the core of these policies is the illegal goal of forced populationtransfer. The forced displacement of Palestinians from their lands by
the occupying power is part of a deliberate strategy designed to secure
territorial control and sustain Jewish dominance in the West Bank. In theprocess, Israel is destroying communities and scarring their collective
consciousness. Through interviews with community members, thisposition paper outlines the severe repercussions of Israel’s policies,
aiming to provide evidence substantiating our assertion of systematicforced expulsion.
The international community must acknowledge that these acts of forced
displacement constitute severe violations of international humanitarianlaw. Article 49 of the Geneva Convention for the Protection of Civiliansin Time of War (1949) prohibits any “individual or mass forcible transfers,
as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory.”12
Customary International Humanitarian Law Rule 129, as defined by theInternational Red Cross, similarly prohibits such acts. The infringementof this prohibition is not only a breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention
as per Article 147 but is also categorized as a crime against humanity
and, during times of war, qualifies as a war crime under Articles 7 and 8of the Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998) (Rome Statuteof the ICC).13 The ‘forced’ aspect of this displacement is not limited
to physical force; it encompasses various forms of coercion, such as
psychological oppression, abuse of power, and the establishment of acoercive environment that leaves the affected individuals with no viableoption but to abandon their homes and lands.
The authors of this position paper urge the international community
to fulfill its responsibilities under international law by formally
12International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). (1949). Geneva Convention IV Relative to
the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, Article 49. [Online]. Retrieved from: https://www.icrc.org/ihl/INTRO/380
13International Criminal Court (1998). Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (A/CONF.183/9). Retrieved from [https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/RS-Eng.pdf

17

acknowledging these rights violations, actively opposing them, andimplementing an action plan to prevent their perpetuation. The
evidence outlined in this position paper, along with numerous otherreports by rights groups, calls for a response that goes beyond simple
acknowledgment. It necessitates active engagement in preventing
ongoing oppression and forced displacement, as well as ensuring theprotection of the affected communities. Moreover, the international
community must insist that Israel be held accountable for the violations
that have already taken place.
Israel must take immediate action to prevent settler violence andacts of forced displacement, ensuring the protection of the rights
of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This includes
upholding their right to life, health, self-determination, and freedom
from discrimination. Additionally, Israel must guarantee unrestricted
access to essential services in Palestinian areas, including healthcare,water, electricity, and infrastructure development.
Palestinian communities in Area C require urgent protective actions that
go beyond the framework of international humanitarian law. Decisive
measures must be implemented to safeguard their rights, prevent theirdisplacement, and facilitate their return, enabling them to reclaim theirdignity and the right to live securely. This includes ensuring their rightto cultivate land, graze their livestock, build homes, and enjoy accessto natural, social, and political resources. The international community
must take a firm stance against these breaches of international law andpersistently work towards a future in which the health, development,
well-being, and resilience of these communities are not merely ideals
but a concrete reality.

Writting: Aseel Aburas
Editing: Hadas Ziv

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