The Creating Safer Space network has two research projects in Palestine. The research teams leading both projects highlight that while the world’s attention is understandably focused on Gaza, there is also a tragic situation unfolding in the West Bank.
The project Safety and dignity: Enhancing unarmed civilian protection amongst Palestinian communities in the South Hebron Hills is led by Marwan Darweish (Coventry University), together with Mahmoud Soliman (Coventry University & Al Shmoh Cultural Centre, Palestine) and Andrew Rigby (Coventry University). Drawing upon their research, they have published an article in Rethinking Security entitled Settlers turn Soldiers: The imperative for international presence and protection in the West Bank. The team argues that there is an urgent need to deploy a civilian multinational presence to protect Palestinians in the West Bank from armed and empowered Israeli settlers. The team also report on the arrest of their film maker:
“Mahmoud Makhamra is a young film maker from the South Hebron Hills (SHH), Palestine, who has been contracted by the project to make a ten minute film about civilian protection in the area. The aim is to use the film as form of discussion among community and other actors to elicit insights and exchange views about the effect of local protection mechanisms. Mahmoud also co-produced the film On Our Land about cultural protection in SHH.
Mahmoud was arrested by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on 29 Dec 2023 at about 12:00 in his village Jinba, while he was filming a shepherd. Mahmoud told us later that “they arrested me and took me to a military camp, and kept me outside in the cold for six hours, my eyes blindfolded and hands tied behind my back”. After that the army took Mahmoud to a military detention centre in Kfar Etzion near Bethlehem. He was released on 2 January without charges. The Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory have no civil rights and will be charged in military courts.”
The project Assessing the impact of unarmed civilian protection in the South Hebron Hills between 2018-2023 is led by Operazione Colomba. They report:
“From October 7th the level of violence escalated: all the Israeli settlers wear a uniform and hold weapons, and behave as a sort of militia, supported by the legitimization of the Israeli government. In this worrying context, Operazione Colomba’s staff has a crucial role to protect Palestinian civilians in danger and to monitor and report human rights violations in the area. The staff suffered direct threats by settlers and the Israeli army on many occasions. Operazione Colomba even witnessed an attempt by an Israeli settler to murder a Palestinian man in the middle of the street in the village of At-Tuwani (South Hebron Hills), that has been recorded and reported to the media and Israeli NGOs and lawyers. Luckily the victim survived, after many medical treatments. Please see: https://news.sky.com/story/israel-hamas-war-how-attacks-by-settlers-on-palestinians-in-the-west-bank-have-risen-during-gaza-conflict-12986997
From the beginning of 2024, the level of violence is always very high. Operazione Colomba is on the ground, together with other groups of activists (Palestinian, Israeli and international) who perform unarmed civilian protection. More than 18 Palestinian villages (almost 1000 people) have been forcibly evacuated by Israeli armed settlers and army in the region. Operazione Colomba witnesses daily arrests, violence, destruction of properties and land-grabbing, recording all the human rights violations.”