RAMALLAH, Doctors Without Borders has called in a statement on the Israeli occupation authorities to refrain from proceeding with a plan to evict some 1,000 Palestinians from their homes in the Masafer Yatta area of the occupied West Bank.

“This plan would mean the imminent forcible displacement of almost the entire population of Masafer Yatta,” said David Cantero Pérez, MSF head of mission. “Where are all these families to go? This is completely unacceptable.”

In the 1980s, Israel designated Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, as a military firing zone. In the decades since, Palestinians living in 12 villages scattered across the region have seen their homes repeatedly demolished. They have also lived under the threat of forced displacement.

Their situation deteriorated yet further in May 2022 following a ruling by the Israeli Supreme Court which removed all legal barriers to the forced displacement of Palestinians from Masafer Yatta to make way for converting the area into a military zone.

Palestinian officials confirmed that, as of January 2023, most of the residents of Masafer Yatta had received demolition orders and are at imminent risk to be forcibly displaced.

Israeli authorities have put extraordinary pressure on residents of Masafer Yatta to leave the area. As well as demolishing people’s homes, they have installed checkpoints, confiscated residents’ vehicles, and enforced curfews and other movement restrictions.

These measures, which have intensified in recent months, have severely impacted residents’ freedom of movement, mental health and ability to access basic services, including medical care, say MSF teams working in the area.

Sick and elderly patients report being made to wait for hours at checkpoints and being forced to walk long distances to reach clinics. Residents’ movements are restricted even during medical emergencies.

“These measures have severely affected the residents of Masafer Yatta and made their lives unbearable,” said Cantero Pérez. “They live in constant fear.”

“The mental health impact on residents, particularly on children, cannot be understated,” Cantero Pérez added. “In periods where more home demolitions occur, our mental health team receives more people with symptoms of depression and anxiety.”

Source: Palestine News & Info Agency