On 28 July 2025, Awdah (Awdeh) Hathaleen, a 31-year-old Palestinian teacher and activist from Umm al‑Khair in the Masafer Yatta area south of Hebron, was shot dead by an Israeli settler identified as Yinon Levi during confrontations over land and bulldozing efforts Hathaleen was a peace activist, co-director of "The Good Shepherd" ONG. He had contributed to the Oscar‑winning documentary No Other Land, which chronicles the struggle of Palestinian communities facing forced displacement in Masafer Yatta The settler, allegedly under prior US sanctions (later removed), was filmed firing a handgun into the crowd after Palestinians tried pacifically to block the destruction of olive groves and a water pipeline, including an attempt to halt bulldozer activity on their land. Yinon Levi was filmed shoting indiscriminately; Hathaleen was not taking part in the clash and was struck in the chest from a distance. Following the murder, the Israeli army arrested five men from the Hathaleen family. On Tuesday, the Israeli army closed the area around Umm al-Kheir, restricting any access to it. **Beginning of the event** Mattan Berner-Kadish, a Palestinian rights activist with dual Israeli-American citizenship, is one of Awdah Hathaleen’s friends. He was present during the July 28 attack that led to Awdah’s death. According to him, the incident began peacefully on July 27,when the machine—the bulldozer—arrived for the first time. *"The settlers and the security chief of the settlement told us it would be used exclusively on land they occupy, in an olive grove that we had planted. When the bulldozer was dropped off and parked, it was left on the main road, and it damaged part of that road. So the Palestinians suggested that the next morning, the day the incident happened, they would bring spare wheels they had—like many villages do—and place them underneath so the bulldozer would roll over them and not damage the road. Then on Monday, there were further discussions because the settlers were planning to build a road in the area where water and electricity currently pass through for the village. There were conversations between the settlement’s security chief and the villagers. But it didn’t seem overly dramatic. All of a sudden, my friend Ahmed shouted to me: ‘Come, come, come!’ because the bulldozer had started moving and crushed the sewage pipe that marks the boundary between private Palestinian land and the land occupied by the State [of Israel], and it continued moving forward onto Palestinian land, destroying all the trees and demolishing the pipeline. So Ahmed and I tried to stand in front of it. A few others tried too. We were filming. The driver didn’t stop and swung the front part—the digging arm—and it hit my friend Ahmed on the shoulder and neck. He fell.”* A video published on X on July 28, 2025, shows Palestinian activists from Umm al-Khair trying to block a bulldozer belonging to Israeli settlers. At 0:02 in the video, the arm of the bulldozer strikes one of the activists on the shoulder. *“A nurse and two activists arrived. One of them was trained as a paramedic, and I was helping him by translating. Then he asked me to go get some water. And during that time, I heard a ‘boom’ that I thought was a stun grenade. I went to get water, and I saw Awdah lying on the ground, bleeding from a gunshot wound.”* Another video posted on X on July 28, 2025, shows a confrontation between Yinon Levi and residents of Umm al-Khair. The settler fires a pistol twice—at 0:16 and 0:21 in the footage. According to villagers, one of the bullets killed Awdah Hathaleen, the activist and teacher. *“So I ran toward Yinon Levi, the settler. I begged him: ‘Please don’t shoot anyone else. Calm down.’ I told him: ‘You just killed someone!’ And he replied: ‘And I’m glad. I’m happy I did it.’ After that, we just tried to calm things down. We managed to get ambulances. I tried to get into the ambulance with Awdah. They wouldn’t let me in.”* **Testimony of activist Berner-Kadish for Al Jazeera** When villagers gathered to try to stop the machinery, the operator used the digger’s claw to hit one of them in the head, dropping him to the ground, semi-conscious. Awdah was 10-15 metres (30-50 feet) away from the altercation, standing in the community centre yard, looking on. In the chaos, gunshots started ringing out, and Berner-Kadish saw Yinon Levi shooting at people. Amid the screams and panic, he realised that Awdah had been shot. He tried to calm Levi down, telling him that he had directly shot someone and likely killed him. To which Levi responded: “I’m glad I did it.” Berner-Kadish also tried to talk to the Israeli soldiers who arrived on the scene, only to hear from three of them that they wished they had been the ones to shoot Awdah. **The perpetrator:** Yinon Levi is the founder of Meitarim Farms, an illegal outpost in the South Hebron Hills. He also owns a construction and demolition company which is subcontracted by the IDF to carry out demolitions in the West Bank of illegal Palestinian construction. Levi has also been working in Gaza City, doing demolition work for the army there. Has been accused by rights groups of using his farm as a base for intimidation and settler violence, including displacing entire communities like Khirbet Zanuta. Levi is among several West Bank settlers who were placed under economic sanctions by the former administration of former US president Joe Biden for perpetrating violence against Palestinians. President Donald Trump lifted the sanctions, but sanctions imposed by Canada, the UK, and the European Union remain in place. **Israeli forces involvement in the impunity climate** Israeli police arrested Levi for questioning; he was subsequently placed under house arrest—assigned to a farm under supervision for 21 days—and forbidden from contact with witnesses. Israeli forces abducted the body of Awdah Halatheen, a common practice used when Israeli soldiers execute Palestinians ni West Bank. They prevent the mourning and the religious funerals and increased the grief of families and communities. Some body held by Isreli authorities were never bring back to the families. Later during the day, the Israeli forces raided the mourning tent, declared the area a military zone, expelled mourners, and arrested several villagers (14 ùeùbers of the halatheen family) and two international activists present during the tragedy The French Foreign Ministry condemned the killing as “acts of terrorism”**, marking the first time France used that term in reference to settler violence in the West Bank. They urged Israel to hold the perpetrator accountable. Broader criticism has focused on widespread impunity enjoyed by Israeli settlers, especially those previously sanctioned by Western governments. **Context & Broader Background** Umm al‑Khair, where Hathaleen lived, faces [frequent](https://tiktokgenocide.com/event/614) settler encroachments, demolition threats, and water supply sabotage, severely impacting community survival **Urgent appeal by the residents of Umm al-Khair** "*To the international community, all human rights organizations, journalists and broad public: We inform you that in Khirbet Umm al-Kheir we are experiencing extremely difficult circumstances, as follows: • We have been prevented from receiving the body of our martyr and burying him until now. • Fourteen young men from have been arrested so far. • All journalists and international solidarity activists have been expelled from the village. • There is an insistence by the occupation forces on removing the martyr’s mourning tent and evacuating it. This is a message of appeal and clarification regarding the harsh conditions and real suffering we are experiencing. We kindly urge you to share our message across all platforms and through all means, so the world will know what is happening in Khirbet Umm al-Kheir—the suffering and the attempt to forcibly residents from their land.* **Aftermath : the hunger strike of the women of Umm al-Khaïr** On July 31, more than 70 women aged between 13 and over 70 from the village of Umm al-Khair in the Yatta hills announced they are immediately starting a hunger strike, demanding the return of the body of Awdah Hathaleen, a resident of the village who was killed last Monday by a settler, while standing in the courtyard of the village community center. Awdah Hathaleen's body is being held by Israel, and the police are imposing conditions for its release, including limiting the number of funeral participants to just 15, and requiring the burial to take place in a neighboring town—not in the village itself. The women declared they would continue their hunger strike until the villager is returned and buried on his land, with his family able to accompany him on his final journey. The hunger strike is also a protest against the continued detention of six other villagers—Odeh’s brothers and cousins. *“The strike will continue until they return the body of the martyr Odeh to us—until they return Odeh, and also the boys they took for no reason. (…) They took 14 of our sons, and they want to imprison them, even though they did nothing wrong. (…) Our sons are our strength, they are our protection, they are the ones who keep us safe.”* The women also expressed outrage over the night raids carried out since the killing: *“They stormed into the home of the martyr’s wife, even though everyone knows she is in ‘Idah’, the four-month mourning period prescribed by Islam, during which a man is not allowed to see her—except for her brother, father, or close relatives permitted to do so. The army entered her bedroom nonetheless. The children started screaming. When the soldiers entered, they tried to break down the gate with a vehicle, to destroy it by force, to force the door open to get inside.”* The men of the village have announced that they too will join the hunger strike if Odeh’s body is not returned within 24 hours. **Impunity reinforced by the Jerusalem Court Decision:** On July 31, a Jerusalem court refused to extend Yinon Levi’s house arrest, citing weakened evidence and testimony supporting Levi’s claim that his gunshots may not have caused the death. Judge Chavi Toker ruled that the reasonable suspicion against Levi had weakened, based on testimony from Palestinian and international witnesses, which supported Levi’s claim that Hathaleen was at a distance when Levi fired his gun and the shots fired by Levi may not have caused the death. She pretends that the bullet that killed Hathaleen has not been found, and multiple conflicting witness accounts exist. The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court rejected a police request to extend Yinon Levi’s house arrest beyond August 9. The court found Levi's danger to the public had decreased. But the judge approved a delay in releasing Levi to allow police time to appeal the decision. Police planned to appeal the decision, arguing that more investigation is needed to determine if Levi acted lawfully. The body is always released by IDF and the family has not access to the alleged autopsy. Several demos took place during a week in Tel Aviv as well as in West Bnak for the return of his body and the complete release of the family members detained by Israeli forces. **On Augustus 6,** protesters gathered outside the Israeli Supreme Court, demanding the immediate return of Awdah Hathaleen’s body. The Supreme Court hearing has been postponed for 24 hours for the second time. **On Augustus 7**, the body was returned without the initial condition imposed by the Israeli authorities. Despite this, Israeli soldiers declared the village a temporary military zone to prevent foreign or Israeli activists and friends from attending the funeral. However, hundreds of close friends and family members were able to be present and bid a final farewell to the beloved figure. **Who was Awdah Hathaleen** Considered locally and internationally as a peaceful activist and ‘radical humanist’, Awdah has been an activist since he was 17 years old, working to stop the Israeli attempts to expel the villagers of Masafer Yatta from their homes and lands. He hosted countless visiting activists who came to the occupied West Bank to support Palestinian activists and villagers, helping them understand the situation on the ground and embracing their presence with his trademark hospitality. Perhaps his most famous such collaboration was his work with Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham, who co-directed No Other Land, a documentary film that won an Oscar award this year. Awdah would tell anyone who came to Umm al-Kheir that he didn’t choose to be an activist; it just happened. He was known to welcome everyone, regardless of faith or citizenship. He wanted the occupation to end without suffering. He chose to become an English teacher because he wanted the village children to grow up educated and able to tell the world their story in English, so they could reach more people.

Around 10:30 pm, the IDF's official social media accounts announced its plan to enact a "humanitarian pauses" across humanitarian zones in Gaza to "improve the humanitarian response in Gaza" by carrying out aerial airdrops of aid, while also explicitly denying in the same post any claims of starvation in Gaza. Israel's first airdrop was carried out late night, fell on top of tents and injured around 11 people. At 8:40 am the next morning, the IDF published a map laying out supposedly safe areas where its "*tactical pause in military activity will take place for humanitarian purposes from 10:00 to 20:00*" starting Sunday. In total contrast to these official announcements, the IDF continued bombing and shooting civilians across the Gaza Strip including in the areas that are supposed to be safe, namely Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City. Israel killed at least 20 aid seekers on Sunday, while simultaneously not restricting the flow of aid through land crossings. Not a single truck entered from the south, whereas no more than 10 entered from the north, where 7 aid seekers were killed. Israel also killed at least 16 people in areas inside its so-called “humanitarian pause” zone. **List of Israeli attacks on aid seekers on the first day:** - GHF Netzarim / Wadi Gaza: 13 killed, including 4 children and a woman -▪️North: aid seekers massacred at the Zikim Crossing: 7 killed including at least one child **List of Israeli massacres of people inside supposedly safe zones on the first day:** -▪️Al-Mawasi: 7 killed - Deir al-Balah: 4 killed in a tent strike - Al-Rimal: 5 killed, a mother and her four children ### July 28: On the second day of the humanitarian pause, journalists reported that **airdrops fell mostly on areas where the IDF was positioned—kill zones for Palestinians**. Meanwhile, Israel continuing restricting the entry of aid trucks except for propaganda purposes. Late in the evening, Israeli troops perpetrated two aid massacres one in southern Gaza and another by targeting local volunteer groups securing aid entry from North Gaza. ### July 29: For the third day in a row, Israel only allowed a minimal number of trucks through pre-determined routes allowing the aid to get looted. Over the next days, aid airdrop operations continued in limited amounts equating to only a handful of trucks on a daily basis whereas Gaza needed 600 trucks pre-genocide. ### August 4: One of the airdrops killed medic Oday Nahed Al-Qar'an after it fell on him Al-Zawayda area in Deir al-Balah. ### August 6: 18 Palestinians were killed by airdropped aid packages in northern Gaza. ### August 7: Airdrops in Khan Younis killed child Saeed Kamal Abu Younis.  ### August 8: Airdropped aid packages from the Netherlands injured 6 people, mostly children, in Al-Jalaa Street in Gaza City. One of the victims was 15 y/o Karam Al-Kahlout who suffered a skull fracture and brain hemorrhage while he was out fetching water for his wheelchair-bound father. Karam Al-Kahlout succumbed on August 17. In central Gaza, 5 members of aid securnig groups were killed near Kissufim. ### August 9: Airdropped aid packaged in Nuseirat killed 14 year-old Muhannad Eid. ### August 29: Israel official declared the end of the humanitarian pause it never upheld in Gaza City as it continued its violent assault on Gaza City.

Late May 2025 (May 30–31): A large Jewish‑Arab protest marched through the German Colony under slogans such as “We want life, not escalation”, “Stop the war”, and displayed watermelon symbols and pictures of Palestinian children. Hundreds participated across Jewish and Arab communities. April 10, 2025: Police cracked down on a demonstration with banners in Hebrew, Arabic, and English reading “Stop the genocide” and “From Haifa to Gaza: One blood and fate”. At least 23 people were arrested amidst violent dispersal in the German Colony. July 7: IsraeliPolice snatching signs and arresting activists at a protest against the genocide in Haifa. Four activists were arrested. July 24, 2025: Thousands demonstrated in Tel Aviv and Haifa, carrying images of starving Palestinian children and demanding an end to what protesters described as genocide. Police arrested approximately 24 activists in Haifa’s German Colony July 31: Israeli police attack Palestinians participating in a protest in occupied Haifa demanding an end to the Israeli war of genocide and starvation on the Gaza Strip. August 1: About 100 protesters gather in Haifa to oppose the ongoing genocide & starvation in Gaza. 1 protester staged an art protest. Police immediately dispersed the demonstration, using force against them & violently arresting 14 protesters.

On July 19, 2025, it was reported that extremist settlers began constructing a road on annexed Palestinian land in Mukhmas, northeast of East Jerusalem. The work involved heavy equipment flattening land under the settlers’ control, particularly originating from the illegal outpost Sde Yonatan. These settlers have reportedly used the site as a base for attacks on the local Palestinian community. This road connects the Sde Yonatan outpost—established or re-established during the current Gaza conflict—to Ma’ale Mikhmas, enabling easier access and support for settler expansion and activity. It allows faster movement into and through lands previously inaccessible to settlers, facilitating new outpost infrastructure and heightened settler violence near Mukhmas. Torat Tzedek, an Israeli human rights organization, has documented routine harassment by settlers in the area: invasions of private land, livestock theft, property damage, and night-time intimidation tactics. Mondoweiss They warn that these activities have escalated since October 2023, with four new outposts now encircling Mukhmas, intensifying threats to Palestinian inhabitants. According to Peace Now, since mid‑2023 hundreds of new illegal roads have been constructed in the West Bank—many built on private Palestinian land and serving as entryways for outpost expansion. New roads facilitating outpost growth, enabling full-scale raid nd reduce Palestinian access to their own land; **Previous incident: On July 18**, settlers attacked the Bedouin community of Khilat as-Sidra near Mukhmas town, stole money from local residents, and punctured water tanks. **Timeline of the events:** **On July 24, 2025**, Settler youth invaded the Palestinian village of Mukhmas in Eastern Ramallah. They attempted to get to families' homes, ran over two human right advocates with their ATVs as the advocates tried to prevent them from entering the village.

On Wednesday night, July 23, 2025, Israeli forces conducted a raid in the town of Al‑Khader, south of Bethlehem. They opened fire on a group of teenagers near the Al-Abbara area, adjacent to Settlement Road 60. Two Palestinian teenagers — Ahmad Ali As’ad Salah (15) and Mohammad Khaled Alian Issa (17) — were shot and killed by Israeli forces in the town of Al-Khader, south of Bethlehem. The bodies of the two boys were reportedly held by Israeli forces for a time before being transferred to hospitals in Bethlehem. At least two others, including minors, were wounded and transferred to hospitals in Bethlehem. The Palestine Red Crescent Society confirmed that paramedics were denied access to reach the injured, potentially costing lives and contributing to severe injuries or loss of limbs. The village of Al-Khader has seen repeated raids and settler incursions in recent years. In April 2025, Israeli forces opened fire during a raid, injuring a young man. **Names of the martyrs:** 1) Ahmad Ali As’ad Ashira Salah, 15 2) Mohammad Khaled Aleyan Issa, 17 **Israeli army statement** In a statement, the army announced that its soldiers killed two Palestinians and wounded 2 others claiming that *“the force spotted a number of young men throwing Molotov cocktails on a central road in the area.”* It added that Israeli forces *“opened fire on them, killing two of them, and there were no casualties among our forces.”*

Around midday, an Israeli special forces unit carried out an operation to inflitrate and abduct Dr. Marwan Al-Hams while he was in a visit to the Red Cross field hospital near the Fish Fresh in southwest Gaza. Dr. Marwan Al-Hams is the Director of Field Hospitals in Gaza, a spokesperson for the inistry of Health, and the director of the Abu Yusuf Al-Najjar Hospital which was completely destroyed by the IDF. During the abduction, the Israeli unit shot and injured the driver fo the ambulance where Dr. Al-Hams was. Journalist Tamer Al-Zaanin was killed by Israeli gunfire during the operation whereas his colleague Ibrahim Abu Ashiba was injured. On July 22, it was revealed that Dr. Al-Hams was being held at Ashkelon prisonand had a sustained a gunshot wound to his foot. He is barred from meeting his attorney until July 31 and his detention has been extended until then. An Israeli court then re-extended his detention until September 11. On October 2, an **Israel-backed gang abducted Dr. Al-Hams's daughter, Tasneem, a 22 year-old nurse** while she was on duty at a medical point in Mawasi Khan Younis. Eyewitnessed reported that 5 armed people came in a Volswagen Golf car and abducted her. Her whereabouts remain unknown since.

Ayman Odeh is a Palestinian citizen of Israel and a prominent left-wing politician. He leads the Hadash party and previously headed the Joint List, an alliance of Arab-majority parties in the Israeli Knesset. Known for advocating Jewish-Arab cooperation, social justice, and an end to the Israeli occupation, he is one of the most vocal Palestinian voices inside Israeli politics. Timeline of the threats against MK Odeh: **On November 2024** Odeh was expelled from the Knesset podium after calling PM Netanyahu a “serial killer of peace.” He had highlighted an airstrike that killed newborn twins and their mother. **On May 22, 2025** Odeh was again forcibly removed from the Knesset for his outspoken condemnation of the Gaza war. Times of Israel **On January 2025** During the ceasefire with Hamas and the otages exchange, Odeh tweeted, *“I am happy about the release of the [Israeli] hostages and [Palestinian] prisoners… From here, both peoples must be freed from the yoke of the occupation.”* This drew harsh criticism and set the stage for impeachment by various members of the Knesset. From June 24 to late June 2025, the Knesset House Committee voted 14–2 to initiate impeachment proceedings under the “Impeachment Law”. Far-right MK Ofir Katz called him a “routine supporter of terror” and said he “should rot in prison.” The motion passed with backing from all Jewish MKs, including the official opposition—a move criticized as racist and anti-democratic. The Purpose of the Impeachment Law, introduced in 2016 under the pretext of targeting incitement to racism or armed struggle, is to be used to suppress Arab MKs—while similar acts by Jewish MKs have not triggered impeachment attempts The move serves two purposes: to distract from growing public fatigue with the Gaza war and to discourage higher Arab voter turnout — by sending a message that voting for Arab representatives is ineffective. The Zionist opposition parties joined the impeachment push, effectively empowering Netanyahu’s strategy and alienating Arab citizens who might otherwise engage politically **On July 15, 2025** A full Knesset vote on his expulsion failed. 73 MKs voted in favor, 15 against, and many—including United Torah Judaism, Blue & White, and most of Yesh Atid—abstained. The required supermajority of 90 votes was not reached, so Odeh remained in office. **On July 19, 2025** While heading to an anti-war rally in Ness Ziona, Odeh’s car was surrounded by a far-right mob. Attackers smashed his windows, hurled stones and sticks, spat at him, and chanted “death to Arabs”, all as police allegedly stood by without intervening. After surviving the assault unharmed, Odeh declared on X: “Fascism will not pass. Kahanism will not pass. We will not let them prevail!” This attack came just days after the failed Knesset vote to expel him over his pro‑prisoner swap. It underscores the heightened hostility toward Odeh amid his vocal criticism of the Gaza war and support for equality in Israel-Palestine politics. The police reportedly did nothing raises urgent questions about complicity and the rising threat of fascist violence targeting Arab politicians in Israel. **MK Ayman Odeh statement on July 19:** *"A week ago, brave citizens who organize the weekly demonstration against the war and against the government invited me to speak tonight in the city of Ness Ziona. This morning, we were informed that fascist extremists had threatened to attack us if we showed up, but we decided not to back down. We decided that no one will silence our voices. I thank the organizers and the courageous protesters who didn’t give up, who didn’t stay silent, and who understood: we must not be afraid. And we must not let them win. That’s why I came tonight, without fear. I was attacked by dozens of thugs. They assaulted my staff and me with stones, sticks, and anything they could get their hands on. They surrounded our car, shattered the windows, and shouted “Death to Arabs” the entire time. All the while, Ben Gvir’s police stood by and did nothing. Not a single arrest. But even in the face of such terrible violence, we will not be silent. On the contrary: it only strengthens our resolve, and our will to fight. We do not surrender to fascism. We stand firm against it, Jews and Arabs together, and we will defeat it. The struggle is clear: Democracy or fascism. As we did tonight, I will stand tall in the face of fascists, with my head held high, and I will attend every protest across the country."*

On July 18, in Hammam al Malik, in the Jordan Valley, Israeli settlers killed 117 sheep belongin to a Palestinian Bedouins farmer in an overnight attack and stealing hundreds of others in an apparent effort to chase farmers off their land in the occupied West Bank. **According to "Jordan Valley Activists":** Last night, a herd of 350 sheep was stolen from Hammam al-Malik. The shepherds were detained by the army on the pretext that they had thrown stones and were released a few hours later. Some of the sheep were found in the area around Ein Shak and returned to their enclosure in the morning. Many sheep carcasses remained in the field—executed—and wounded sheep were evacuated by pickup trucks. According to the shepherds, 117 sheep are still missing. Many were shot to death. [source](https://x.com/Mistaclim/status/1946200631221317736)

On July 17, 2025, at exactly 9:00, Israeli strike targeted the sole Catholic church of the Gaza strip, the Holy Family Latin Church in the Latin Convent in the heart of Gaza City. By 10:00, A tank fired shell struck the church roof sending rubble crashing down on civilians gathered in the courtyard and in a charity tent providing mental health support Since October 7, 2023, the church represents a vital sanctuary for hundreds of displaced Palestinians. For the past two weeks, shelling and bombing around the church have been frequent. Numerous videos showing explosions heard or seen during mass were recorded from inside the church. **Gaza Civil Defense:** The Holy Family Church, targeted by the Israeli army, shelters about 400 displaced Christians who sought refuge there after their homes were destroyed (press statement) **Casualties:** At least eight people were wounded, two of them critically. Among the wounded is Father Gabriel Romanelli, the priest of the Catholic community in the city, who was reportedly very close with the late Pope Francis, having spoken with him often during the war in Gaza. Suhail Abu Dawood, Catholic atlter server was also wounded in the attack and remains in critical condition. 2 are killed. **Names of the victims:** 1. Saad Salama (Rum Orthodox Christian) 2. Foumia Ayyad (Rum Orthodox Christian, the parish’s 60-year-old janitor) 3. Najwa Abu Daoud (Muslim woman in her 80s, who was receiving support inside a Caritas tent in the church compound) **Initial Press Release of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem on the church bombed by Israel:** *“Jerusalem/Gaza 17 July 2025 The Holy Family Church in Gaza has been struck by a raid this morning. There are several injuries in the place including the Parish Priest, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli. Currently there are no fatalities confirmed. The Church sustained damage. The Patriarchate will provide additional details upon their confirmation.”* **IDF spin** According to Haaretz, the IDF stated it is *"aware of reports regarding damage caused to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and casualties at the scene. The circumstances of the incident are under review." The military added that it makes efforts "to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them."* Israel’s foreign ministry Gideon Sa'ar, stated that *“he expresses deep sorrow over the damage [to the church] and over any civilian casualty. (...) Israel never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any harm to a religious site or to uninvolved civilians,” the ministry said in a statement. “The IDF is examining this incident, the circumstances of which are still unclear, and the results of the investigation will be published transparently.”* Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday blamed “stray ammunition” and said his country was “investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites.” **Cardinal Pizzaballa (the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem) second statement:** *“This morning, at approximately 10:20 a.m., the compound of the Holy Family in Gaza, belonging to the Latin Patriarchate, was struck by the Israeli army. As of this hour, three individuals lost their lives as a result of the injuries sustained and nine others were wounded, including one in critical condition and two in serious condition. The community’s parish priest, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, sustained light injuries. (...) The people in the Holy Family compound are people who found in the Church a sanctuary — hoping that the horrors of war might at least spare their lives, after their homes, possessions, and dignity had already been stripped away,” said the statement, adding that it “strongly condemns this tragedy and this targeting of innocent civilians and of a sacred place. However, this tragedy is not greater or more terrible than the many others that have befallen Gaza.”* Sources close to the patriarchate’s chancery told The Pillar Thursday that some officials believe the strike could be a deliberate act of retaliation, after Christian leaders recently condemned Israeli settler attacks on a West Bank Christian town. ‘not sure’ Gaza parish strike was ‘mistake’. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem has expressed doubts after the Israeli government said that tank fire on the Gaza parish was not deliberate. Later, in an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera daily, Pizzaballa said a Catholic presence would remain in Gaza “whatever happens,” and expressed doubts about Israel’s comments that the strike was a mistake: *“We are not a target. They say it was an error. Even if everybody here believes it wasn’t,”*. **Weapon** Some reports talk about aerial bombing by drone, but eyewitnesses told The Associated Press that an IDF tank fired at the church. This was later confirmed by the IDF sources. The chunguskitten X account,@chunguskitten, member of the Gazan Christian community and photographer testifIED that *"Based on photos it looks like the Israeli tank operators were aiming for the cross, but missed hitting the roof leading to the debris to rain down and crush those sheltering inside. There is no reason for an Israeli tank shell to be aimed this high. Lord have mercy."* In an act of defiance, the church bells rang on the morning of July 18. **Visit by the Patriarchs Pizzaballa and Theophilos III** On Friday July 18, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem visited Gaza — a rare move due to Israel’s tight blockade, to “stand alongside those affected by recent events,” according to a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. They worked with humanitarian partners to secure access for hundreds of tons of food aid, first aid kits, and medical equipment, which will benefit both the Christian community and other families in Gaza as well. The Patriarchate ensured also the evacuation of individuals injured in the attack to medical institutions outside Gaza where they will receive care. Praying for the safety of the visit, the Patriarchate called for the suspension of military activities. “The Latin Patriarchate said it remains steadfast in its commitment to the Christian community and the entire population of Gaza,” it said. “They will not be forgotten, nor will they be abandoned.” Pope Francis called Pizzaballa and Theophilos to express support, stating he was "deeply saddened" by the attack but did not assign blame to Israel. **On July 18, Joint oecumenic statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem:** - Express their solidarity with people sheltering in the Gaza Catholic Parish :“In unyielding unity, we strongly denounce this crime,” “Houses of worship are sacred spaces that should be kept safe. They are also protected under international law. Targeting a church that houses approximately 600 refugees, including children with special needs, is a violation of these laws. It is also an affront to human dignity, a trampling upon the sanctity of human life, and the desecration of a holy site.” - Assuring the community in Gaza of their prayers and calling upon the international community to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza that leads to an end to the war: “We also implore them to guarantee the protection of all religious and humanitarian sites,” **More details on the Catholic parish of Gaza** The parish includes a school which provides a Christian education to children in Gaza, and it works closely with the nearby religious congregations of the Missionaries of Charity, Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará, and the Rosary Sisters. The Missionaries of Charity care for the elderly and disabled, and the Rosary Sisters operate a school. The community is served by priests from the Institute of the Incarnate Word. **Israeli attacks on the worship places (Muslim and Chrstian)** Since October 7, 2023, three churches in Gaza have been significantly damaged, alongside between 815 and over 1,000 mosques completely destroyed, with an additional 151 mosques partially damaged, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Awqaf and UNESCO assessments. That’s not even taking in consideration the churches and mosques of Lebanon that were attacked/desecrated by Israeli forces. The churches are: ➤ *Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church* – one of the oldest churches in the world, struck on October 19, 2023, during an Israeli airstrike that hit near the compound sheltering displaced civilians, killing at least 18 people. ➤ *Holy Family Catholic Church(Latin Parish of Gaza) and the Latin Monastery Church (Deir al-Latin)* – targeted on December 16, 2023; two Christian women were killed by Israeli sniper fire while sheltering inside. The attack was condemned by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and bombed in July 2025 by Israeli forces in the Old City of Gaza. The church’s priest, Gabriele Romanelli, was injured in the strike, and two worshippers were killed. ➤ *The Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, which includes a church*, is the only Christian hospital in the Gaza Strip. It has about 80 beds and provides critical medical services, including surgery, outpatient care, and trauma treatment. The hospital is overseen by the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem.In October 2023, it was targeted by an Israeli missile, killing hundreds of people who were sheltering in its yard. On Palm Sunday in April 2025, a missile strike again severely damaged the hospital. In June 2025, an eighth attack injured medical staff and displaced civilians. On July 8, 2024, the hospital was forcibly evacuated under orders from the Israeli military, and all patients and staff were removed.

This event is gathering the harassement and terror incidents by Israeli settlers and soldiers targeting the Ras al Ain Ras Al Auja Bedouin community, including Shallal al Auja area, in the Jordan Valley leading to their forced displacement or ethnic cleansing. These events are part of a broader pattern of escalating settler violence targeting Ras al-Ein, the largest remaining Bedouin village in the southern Jordan Valley, following the ethnic cleansing of nearby Muarrajat Shallal al‑Auja (sometimes written as Shallal al‑Awja) is a small Bedouin community located north of Jericho within the broader area of Al‑‘Auja, in the eastern Jordan Valley. It's in the Al‑‘Auja area, and falls under Area C—meaning it remains under full Israeli military and administrative control. The community is part of a network of small villages and Bedouin encampments along Wadi al‑Auja and near the Al‑‘Auja spring, approximately 10–11 km northeast of Jericho. In essence, Shalla al‑Auja is one of several vulnerable Bedouin communities situated near Al‑‘Auja in the northern Jordan Valley, facing pressures on land, water, and security. **Context:** Ras ‘Ein al ‘Auja, home to about 135 families and the last remaining Bedouin community in this part of the valley, was emptied after years of harassment that intensified sharply after October 2023. Settlers carried out arson, livestock theft, beatings, intimidation, home invasions, destruction of roads, electricity cuts, and water sabotage, making daily life unbearable. By early 2026, families began dismantling their homes and fleeing, many in tears, after decades on the land. The violence is described as systematic and strategic, led largely by young settler shepherds, including minors known as the “Hilltop Youth,” operating from herding outposts. These outposts allow settlers to rapidly seize large areas of land by grazing animals, isolating Palestinian communities, and blocking access. According to rights groups, this method is faster and more effective than building permanent settlements. Israeli security forces are portrayed as failing to protect Palestinians, often ignoring or indirectly supporting settler violence while arresting Palestinians and Israeli peace activists instead. Despite a sharp rise in settler attacks and more than 1,000 Palestinian deaths in the West Bank since October 2023, there has been virtually no accountability. Human rights groups argue the campaign has full backing from the Israeli government, including far-right ministers who fund and arm settlers. The goal, they say, is to remove Palestinians from open land in Area C and consolidate Israeli control, particularly along the Jordan Valley — a long-standing objective dating back to the Allon Plan after 1967. As families leave, those remaining become even more vulnerable, trapped by poverty and lack of alternatives. International sanctions and diplomatic recognition of a Palestinian state have so far failed to halt the destruction of communities on the ground. The article concludes that while responsibility is clear, international accountability is more distant than ever, and the displacement of Palestinian communities is accelerating. ## Notable incidents: *Note: for the period between 2023 and July 2025, see the event Ras Al-Ein [Al-Auja under settlers terror](/event/319)* **On July 15, 2025**, Israeli settlers and forces attacked the residents of Shalla al‑Auja. The community was assaulted and threatened in a coordinated effort to displace Bedouin families from their land. **On Augustus 10, 2025** *"Over the past 24 hours, settlers began establishing a new outpost near the village of Ras Ein al-Auja in the southern Jordan Valley, an act that will require incursions by settlers into the village’s lands and will inevitably expose residents to violence, looting, and destruction. In recent months, settlers set up a water point above the Palestinian community of Ras Ein al Auja, recently, the tank was connected to a pipeline from illegal outposts east of “Kohav HaShahar”. Today, settlers arrived with overnight gear, mattresses and a shade tarp, and unloaded it in the “Burned Houses” area, a compound abandoned in April 2024 and later torched by settlers. These actions constitute a severe violation of Palestinians’ property rights, livelihoods, and safety. We demand that the state act immediately to stop them. The international community must intervene in the West Bank and press Israel to halt the “wild west” policy now prevailing under Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich’s government".* (Mistaclim report) **On Augustus 15, 2025** Gabriel, an Israeli "security officer" with no legal power in al-Auja, is filmed while he's terrorizing the area with a sadistic smile. He led the ethnic cleansing of al-Muarrajat—courts say he was never there. This is settler colonialism, protected by the system. **On Augustus 16, 2025**, Israeli settlers forcibly displaced two Palestinian Bedouin families from the Shallal al-Auja area north of Jericho after violent assaults and death threats. According to Hassan Mleihat of the Al-Baydar Organization, armed settlers surrounded the families’ homes, severely beat them, and threatened to kill them if they stayed. Rights groups report that new colonial outposts established nearby have intensified a campaign of intimidation aimed at forcing residents off their land. **On October 8, 2025**, Israeli settlers—including minors—attacked Palestinian infrastructure, trespassed on properties, and assaulted activists, bringing even toddlers to witness the violence. Israeli security forces, police, and military arrived shortly after but detained activists for nearly three hours, accusing them of illegal activity. During this time, local Palestinian Ahmed Jahaleen was briefly kidnapped and later released. Activist Dean Talkoff, a dual Israeli-American citizen, was brutally assaulted by police officer Offir Aharonovitch—punched, choked, and slammed into rocks—before being taken to jail, where he remains. Settler outposts and supportive local security forces have carried out an ongoing campaign of terror aimed at expelling the community. Dean Talkoff is the fourth activist injured in the past month during such attacks. **On December 31, 2025**, Israeli settlers plowed Palestinian-owned land, in what rights groups describe as a coordinated attempt to seize land and expand a newly established colonial outpost. The operation began at dawn, with tractors used to cultivate large areas belonging to local families. According to Hassan Mleihat of the Al-Baidar Organization, the plowing is part of a systematic strategy to impose new facts on the ground by linking seized plots to the expanding outpost. The area has already been heavily affected by land loss due to the separation wall and earlier outposts, many later legalized by Israel. Residents warn that the latest actions signal an accelerating wave of land grabs aimed at emptying the region of its Palestinian population and consolidating control over vital agricultural and grazing lands. Community leaders are calling for urgent intervention to stop further takeover. **2026: massive displacement under terror** After New Year, settler attacks intensified to a level that many families felt was immediately life-threatening, not just oppressive. Settlers ploughed up dirt access roads, cutting several houses off from the rest of the village and emergency access. A makeshift settler outpost was established within Ras ‘Ein al ‘Auja itself, rather than on surrounding hills, marking a major escalation.Settlers began roaming between houses at night, entering homes where women and children were sleeping. Electricity cables were cut, and water tanks emptied, directly targeting survival needs. 26 families (over 120 people) decided to leave within days after New Year. Their departure triggered a domino effect, leaving remaining families exposed and accelerating further flight. Psychological impact of the terror on children who, traumatized by night invasions and constant fear, were among the strongest voices urging families to leave immediately. What had previously been long-term harassment and intimidation shifted into direct, immediate coercion, forcing families to choose between fleeing or risking serious harm. **On January 8, 2026**, A Palestinian rights group, Al-Baidar Organization for the Defense of Bedouin Rights, said that ongoing Israeli settler attacks have forced about 20 Palestinian families to leave the northern area of the Shalal al-Ouja Bedouin community, north of Jericho in the West Bank, amid repeated assaults and a lack of protection. Under relentless settler harassment, residents of Ras Ein al-Auja are dismantling their homes and selling their flocks as they prepare to leave a community they have lived in for decades. Settlers from nearby outposts have blocked access to grazing lands, making livelihoods impossible and forcing families into debt. As departures accelerated, left-wing activists organized round-the-clock “protective shifts” to keep settlers’ sheep out of the village and allow exhausted residents to finish packing. “This is another Nakba,” said resident Husseini, as neighbors tore down pens and loaded trucks. “After cutting us off and preventing us from making a living, there is no choice left.” Observer Amir Pansky described the expulsions as uniquely degrading: “Men in their prime need 60-year-old activists or 20-year-old kids to protect them… This is the most revolting form of ethnic expulsion imaginable.” By the weekend, dozens of families had left for nearby towns, leaving behind abandoned compounds, scorched fields, and children’s toys—while settlers roamed the area under the watch of security forces. ([source](https://archive.md/4laUk/again)) **On January 24, 2026** Israeli settlers expelled 15 more Palestinian families from the Bedouin community of Shalal al-Auja, north of Jericho. With this latest attack, the total number of families forcibly displaced has risen to 94. **On January 26, 2026,** Despite international coverage, pressure and harassment of the remaining families — and the presence of protective forces — increased in recent weeks. The last families fled the village, torching their homes to prevent settlers from seizing them. **Testimony of Andrey X on January 26, 2026: ** *"Almost two years ago, I moved to the Palestinian community of Ras al-Auja in the West Bank. This began 24/7 protective presence in the village. I watched the settlers invade the community 4-5 times every single day, often supported by the army and the police. I watched assault, theft, property destruction, arrests, every type of harassment imaginable. I watched ethnic cleansing unfold in front of my eyes. Two years later, the process is complete."*