Masafer Yatta:Jerusalem Israel has detained 11 foreign activists and deported 12 others from the occupied West Bank. The activists were participating in activities supporting Palestinian farmers who face attacks by Israeli occupiers, as stated by the coordinator of the Palestinian 'Fazaa' campaign.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, the campaign's coordinator, Mohammed Matar, reported that approximately 800 foreign activists, including diplomats, have been involved in the campaign since its inception on September 28. The initiative aims to support Palestinian farmers and communities targeted by occupiers. Matar noted that Israeli authorities detained 11 activists in the al-Bawabeer area of Masafer Yatta and deported 12 international activists from the village of Kafr Ni'ma, west of Ramallah.
The detained activists in Masafer Yatta hold Italian, German, American, and Hungarian citizenship, while those deported from Kafr Ni'ma included citizens of the US, Canada, Germany, and Italy. The Israeli measures also affected Italian journalists, and several Palestinian farmers and local residents were detained, although the number was not specified by Matar.
The 'Fazaa' campaign, launched on September 28 and set to continue until the end of November, is a voluntary initiative that assembles foreign activists from various countries to support farmers and communities in the occupied West Bank. Its objective is to cover as much agricultural land as possible and assist Palestinian farmers facing attacks.
Matar highlighted that the campaign has achieved around 70% of its strategic goals despite challenges from the Israeli army and attacks by occupiers. Challenges include farmers' fears of accessing their land, movement restrictions across the West Bank, and difficulties in transporting activists.
Volunteers participate for periods ranging from two weeks to three months, extending beyond the olive harvest season to include activities such as supporting targeted communities, providing civilian protection, and rebuilding damaged infrastructure in the Jordan Valley.
Matar emphasized that the presence of foreign activists sometimes reduces the scale of attacks but does not offer lasting protection for farmers or Palestinian communities. Despite their presence, some activists have been detained and deported. After their return, activists engage in 'people-to-people diplomacy' by sharing their experiences with their communities, thus conveying the situation in Palestinian territories abroad.
He linked the targeting of activists and journalists to efforts to restrict Palestinian society and influence the transmission of the Palestinian narrative globally. Matar asserted that while Israel publishes videos of soldiers assisting farmers, the presence of activists and journalists helps document and expose the realities faced by Palestinians.
The increased attacks by Israeli occupiers, particularly during the olive harvest season, coincide with a report from the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission. The report notes a 52.8% rise in attacks in October compared to the previous month, with 3,133 attacks recorded across the West Bank. The commission reported that occupier attacks were concentrated in the governorates of Ramallah and al-Bireh, Nablus, and Hebron, with significant damage to thousands of trees, including olive trees.