Israeli activists with the group ‘Combatants for Peace’ answered the call of landowners in Beit Sahour whose lands have been invaded by settlers from the nearby Yatziv outpost.
70 Israeli and Palestinian activists provided protective presence and did community work to support the Palestinian Christians facing displacement in Beit Sahour.
Together, the peace activists replaced Israeli and Jewish symbols placed by settlers on these private Palestinian lands with flags of solidarity, partnership, and hope.
Mayors & Cities reported, “The joint activity near Beit Sahour was attended by representatives of the Beit Sahour municipality, alongside Bishop William Shomali from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The event was organized to protest against attempts to displace Palestinians and rising settler attacks in the area.
“Combatants for Peace emphasized their commitment to standing against these threats by providing a protective presence for local residents. Despite the aggression faced, they remain resolute in supporting Palestinians’ safe access to their land through collective action.
“The organization called for an immediate investigation into the incident, underscoring their continued mission to promote peace and oppose violent tactics used against them. Their activities aim to bridge communities through solidarity and non-violent protest.”
The group had also planned on planting trees and cleaning the fields, but were immediately met by heavily armed Israeli paramilitary colonizers who opened fire in their direction to force them to leave. The Israeli army quickly intervened, not to stop the settlers, but to push the group of Israeli and Palestinian peace activists and journalists out of the area, while the paramilitary colonizers were allowed to stay.
Despite the threats, the Israelis who came to the action promised that they will continue to show up, to ensure the Palestinian landowners safe access to their land, and support their resilience through collective action.
Images by Mosab Shawer of Active Stills. According to the Active Stills description of the action: Activists replaced the Israeli flags with Palestinian ones. The Israeli flags were put on the house after 7 October 2023, in what has been described by activists as an attempt by settlers to seize control of the property. As the activists removed the flags, settlers arrived and opened fire towards them. No injuries were reported. Settlers later removed the Palestinian flags and placed Israeli flags again.
