DaysofPal- For Haitham al-Zayed, the memories of childhood are tied to the lush pools of al-Auja. Today, a smartphone screen filters those memories, allowing him to watch videos of Israeli settler children splashing in the same water while their parents barbecue nearby. This scene, captured during the Passover festival in early 2026, is not a coincidence of tourism; it is the culmination of a systematic campaign of displacement.
Three months after he and his family were forced to leave Shallal al-Auja, near the spring in the southern occupied West Bank, Haitham watched a video that he found both painful and expected. It showed large groups of Israeli settlers celebrating the Jewish holiday of Passover at the same site. Children played in the water where he once swam, while families gathered nearby, expressing joy and a sense of return.
The Cost of Resistance
In the footage, some participants credited young settler groups, often referred to as “hilltop youth,” for enabling access to the area. Repeated attacks on Palestinian communities have linked these groups to the displacement of families across the West Bank in recent years.
Watching from his new location in Jabal al-Birka, about five kilometers away, Haitham said the images were difficult to process. In the background, he recognized damaged structures left behind after months of escalating violence. He described what happened to his community not as an isolated incident, but as part of a broader and systematic pattern tied to ongoing territorial expansion.
Data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs indicates that 1,727 Palestinians from 36 communities were displaced in the first three months of 2026 alone due to settler violence and access restrictions. The figure already surpasses annual totals recorded recently.
The Playbook of Displacement
Allegra Pacheco, who works with the West Bank Protection Consortium, said the videos go beyond provocation. She described them as potential evidence of the celebration of forced displacement, raising serious concerns under international law. According to her, such scenes highlight a growing lack of accountability and a climate of impunity.
For Haitham, the displacement followed years of mounting pressure. He recalled frequent incursions into his community, which intensified after the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023. Access to the al-Auja spring was cut off, removing a vital water source. Armed settlers reportedly harassed residents, chased livestock, and carried out raids, often with the presence of Israeli forces.
By early 2026, families in Shallal al-Auja and nearby Ras Ein al-Auja concluded they could no longer remain. Many left behind homes, livelihoods, and tightly knit social networks. Haitham now lives in a remote area with limited infrastructure, where daily life revolves around basic survival.
The Cost of Resistance
Further north in the Jordan Valley, a similar pattern has unfolded. In Hammam al-Maleh, once known for its hot springs and historical sites, most residents have fled following repeated settler attacks. Videos from Passover show large gatherings of settlers in the now largely abandoned area.
A resident identified as Muhammad, who remains in Hammam al-Maleh, said displaced families were deeply affected by the footage. They could see their homes and land in the background, places they had been forced to leave behind.
He described a consistent pattern of intimidation, including property damage and threats against vulnerable groups. Despite the risks, he has chosen to stay. “If I leave, they win,” he said, explaining that his presence is a form of resistance.
The violence has continued to spread. Families who moved to other areas reported facing similar harassment again, reinforcing fears that displacement may not end with relocation. According to recent figures, more than 5,600 Palestinians have been displaced in the West Bank since 2023.
On April 8, a Palestinian man was shot and killed by settlers in Tayasir, an area where many displaced families had sought refuge. The incident has added to growing concerns over escalating violence.
Pacheco warned that current developments reflect dangerous trends identified in early warning signs of large-scale atrocities, including public incitement and unchecked attacks on a specific population.
Despite the destruction around him, Muhammad remains in his community. Settlers have removed key infrastructure, leaving him without reliable electricity, yet he continues to patrol the area daily.
“I was born here. I was raised here,” he said. “I am not willing to leave.”
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