Palestinians forced to flee village in West Bank following erection of settler building: Haaretz

The Israeli media outlet Haaretz reported that Palestinians in the occupied West Bank fled the Bedouon village of Mughayyir al-Dir, following settlers’ harassment and the erection of an outpost within metres from their houses.

Upon the Palestinians return to the village to retrieve their possessions, clashes broke out between the residents and settlers, leading to the hospitalisation of six Palestinians, an Israeli human rights activist and a settler.

According to Haaretz, Israeli forces declined requests to remove the building – which was constructed last Sunday - and said it was not invading the village’s land.

Witnesses told Haaretz that “settlers opened fire, threw rocks and hit activists and Palestinians with clubs. One settler was hit by Palestinians with a stone to his head”.

Over the past two years, settlers have been preventing Palestinians living in the Mughayyir al-Deir from leaving the village with sheep, limiting their access to feeding.

The new outpost erected on the village outskirts changed things significantly for the worse and led to the villagers' departure.

"They go up to the houses and curse," Ibrahim Malihat, 60, told Haaretz.

"We were afraid for our children and our daughters, and feared they would steal sheep. We are displaced. We gave up against our will," he said.