Israel Border Police Block Haaretz Journalists From Reaching Home of Palestinian Family in West Bank

Israeli forces escorted a team of Haaretz reporters towards a family home near Jalud, which had been under a settler siege for over two weeks, until they encountered rocks on the road. After speaking to the settlers, the Haaretz team was blocked from proceeding to 'prevent friction'

July 22nd, 16PM July 22nd, 16PM

A Border Police force prevented two Haaretz journalists on Wednesday from reaching the home of a Palestinian family south of Nablus that has been under siege by Israeli settlers for more than two weeks.

The force, accompanied by several IDF soldiers, began escorting Haaretz West Bank correspondent Matan Golan and Haaretz photographer Itai Ron until they encountered rocks that settlers had placed on the road. After an exchange between the force and the settlers, the reporting team was barred from proceeding along the road leading to the house on the outskirts of the village of Jalud, under the pretext of "preventing friction."

The reporting team was then presented with a closed military zone order and forced to leave, while the settlers remained. The family living in the house, the Tubasi family, has endured repeated settler attacks since April, when an outpost was established in their yard.

According to Golan, the soldiers said they had "received orders" to prevent the journalists from reaching the site. "We are currently at the first outpost on the access road leading to the family's home. This is a building that settlers took over a few weeks ago."

Golan explained that there are several improvised roadblocks erected by settlers, one of which the army had cleared before Golan and Ron arrived.

According to Golan, the soldiers claimed there was no one further up the hill, where the Palestinian family is currently besieged by settlers despite the presence of IDF soldiers.

On Tuesday, it was reported that settlers attacked the family's home and injured several residents. Earlier, IDF and Border Police forces had arrived to secure infrastructure work and the reopening of the access road to the house. According to reports, settlers from nearby outposts descended toward the village, started a fire there, and clashes subsequently broke out between them and local residents.

Local medical teams reported that five residents were lightly wounded during the clashes, including two minors.

The settlers took over a building under construction in the wadi between the family's home and the village center, effectively trapping the family between two outposts and isolating them from the surrounding villages.

Footage from the scene shows soldiers dispatched to the area photographing the settlers but not arresting them. Other footage shows settlers returning to the building after hiding in olive groves while a Border Police force searched the area.

The women and children of the family were evacuated to the center of the village to protect them from the attacks. "I haven't seen my wife and children for more than two weeks. This is an inhumane situation. I hope the police and the army will find a solution. I'm in my own home. I'm not attacking anyone, I'm not causing any problems. Why is this happening?" a family member said.

About two weeks ago, settlers harassed U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna during his visit to the abandoned Palestinian village of Khirbet Zanuta in the southern Hebron Hills. According to a report in The New York Times, armed settlers blocked for about an hour and a half the minibus carrying Khanna and his aides, kicked its tires, cursed at them, and taunted them.

"We were quickly told to get into our van, and they blocked our van from exiting," he said, saying that the settlers and the IDF forces who "took their side" should be investigated and prosecuted. "You can't do that. I've called it detainment. You could call it false imprisonment."

In reaction to subsequent statements on the incident issued by the Israeli military and top officials, he said that he was "more disturbed" by their "lies" than by "the incident itself."

Israel Police had yet to issue a response.