What happened in Ras al-A’uja on Friday, 21 February 2020, will remain in the memories of the locals and their children for some time: Dozens of settlers descended from the hills, on foot and by car. They tried to scatter the sheep grazing near the tents and invaded a tent belonging to the Zayed family. The family’s five children were inside at the time, and the community members, who were nearby, noticed and rushed to help them. The settlers, shouting they were looking for the young men of the community, surrounded the children and the adults who had come to their aid inside the tent, threatened and terrorized them, including with their-dogs. One of the settlers hit a local on the head with the butt of his rifle.

B’Tselem בצלם
“The settlers came down from the hills armed with clubs, sticks, guns and knives. Some of them had dogs”
What happened in Ras al-A’uja on Friday, 21 February 2020, will remain in the memories of the locals and their children for some time: Dozens of settlers descended from the hills, on foot and by car. They tried to scatter the sheep grazing near the tents and invaded a tent belonging to the Zayed family. The family’s five children were inside at the time, and the community members, who were nearby, noticed and rushed to help them. The settlers, shouting they were looking for the young men of the community, surrounded the children and the adults who had come to their aid inside the tent, threatened and terrorized them, including with their-dogs. One of the settlers hit a local on the head with the butt of his rifle.

Residents of Ras al-A’uja tried to alert four soldiers and two police officers who were standing only about 100 meters away, but they refused to protect them or stop the settlers. It was not until the incident was drawing to an end, about two hours later, that they approached and told the settlers to leave.

‘Aishah Zayed, 46 and mother of six, spoke about the raid to B’Tselem field researcher ‘Aref Daraghmeh:

« When I looked at the tent where my children were, I saw settlers armed with guns, knives and clubs. I ran over there, and when I got there, I saw the settlers made them all sit in the corner of the tent. They were shaking with fear. One settler asked, “Where are the guys”? I understood from that they were looking for the young men to attack them. Another settler threatened to set his assault dog on me. He kept releasing his leash so he can lunge in my direction and then pulled him back. The children were terrified and started screaming. One of the settlers went over to my daughters, Anwaar and Sawsan, who are 14 and 11, and scared them with his dog.

The settlers shouted at us and threatened to kill us, and then there was mutual shouting and hitting between us and them. One of them hit one of the guys from the community on the head with a rifle butt. It was awful. This nightmare went on for almost two hours ».

http://www.btselem.org/node/212876

Publié on 13 avril 2020 at 6:20  Commentaires fermés sur What happened in Ras al-A’uja on Friday, 21 February 2020, will remain in the memories of the locals and their children for some time: Dozens of settlers descended from the hills, on foot and by car. They tried to scatter the sheep grazing near the tents and invaded a tent belonging to the Zayed family. The family’s five children were inside at the time, and the community members, who were nearby, noticed and rushed to help them. The settlers, shouting they were looking for the young men of the community, surrounded the children and the adults who had come to their aid inside the tent, threatened and terrorized them, including with their-dogs. One of the settlers hit a local on the head with the butt of his rifle.