Sinjil: Palestinian town besieged by settler violence and Israeli army wall

Ayed Ghafri no longer allows his children to play in the yard.

The Palestinian resident of Sinjil in the occupied West Bank is haunted by the recent uptick in settler violence against Palestinians. 

Surrounded by five Israeli settlements from east to west, the town north of Ramallah is often a target of settler violence, including arson attacks and the throwing of stones. 

However, the attacks intensified in recent months, forcing some families to flee and others to remain trapped indoors, fearful for their safety. 

"The attacks are daily and frequent because the settlement was built next to our homes,” Ghafri told Middle East Eye.

“We cannot leave our children playing outside alone for fear of their safety," he added.

A group of settlers, accompanied by a settlement official, stoned Ghafri’s house early last month and threatened to kill him for trying to reach his land with human rights activists.

Read more: Sinjil: Palestinian town besieged by settler violence and Israeli army wall