Oday Daraghmeh, 18 , was arrested by Isreali Occupation Forces (IOF) in EIn al-Hilwe on Sunday for grazing his sheep on land which Israel has declared a ‘closed military zone’.

He was taken 15km from where he was arrested and tied to a bench outside a military outpost using plastic cable ties.

Two hours after he was detained, a French group visiting the Jordan Valley arrived with the detainees’ brother and their ID cards. They documented the incident which would otherwise not have been recorded.

Oday was fined NIS1000 ($250) for the offence. Israel has declared 45% of the Jordan Valley a ‘closed military zone’ in violation of international law.

Israeli settlements here represent 15% of the total population but control 50% of the land leaving, in theory at least, only 5% in control of Palestinians. Israel can still do whatever it wants in the 5% which remains inside the occupied Jordan Valley. This is all part of a wider policy to permanently displace Palestinians from their land.

Ein el-Hilweh is home to a Bedouin community of around 130 people. They live in Area C which means Israel prohibits them from running water or electricity to their homes – which remain under constant threat of demolition.

Maskiyot settlement is located on the hill overlooking the village. Residents have suffered as a result of settler and military violence many times in the past.

 

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