Israeli Settlers Force Re-burial of Palestinian Man in West Bank
Palestinian family forced to exhume body from grave near settlement re-established by Netanyahu's government.
In the occupied West Bank, Israeli settlers recently disrupted a burial ceremony for Hussein Asasa, an 80-year-old Palestinian man who died of natural causes.
The incident occurred in Asasa village near Jenin, where the family had obtained the necessary permits from Israel’s military to bury their father.
During the burial, villagers alerted the family that some individuals were at the grave site demanding its removal due to claims that the land belonged to a settlement.
According to Mohammed Asasa, his family was told by settlers that they could not bury Hussein there as it allegedly fell within the boundaries of a settlement area.
The settlers threatened to dig up the grave with a bulldozer if their demands were ignored.
In response, the family decided to exhume the body themselves, having already observed that the grave had been partially dug into by the settlers.
Footage circulating on social media corroborated the account as it showed individuals digging at the site and carrying away what appeared to be a body under the watchful eyes of Israeli troops.
The Israeli military later confirmed that they were aware of the funeral arrangements but had not instructed the family to rebury their father.
Military personnel were dispatched to prevent further confrontation with settlers who were reportedly digging in the area.
Tools used for digging were confiscated, and the soldiers remained at the location to de-escalate the situation.
The UN Human Rights Office condemned this incident, describing it as a stark example of the ongoing dehumanization faced by Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).
Sa-Nur, the settlement nearby, was among those evacuated under Israel's 2005 disengagement plan.
However, its re-establishment was approved by Netanyahu’s government, leading to rapid construction, according to Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement watchdog.
The West Bank remains a contested territory where Palestinians seek to establish their own state.
In contrast, Israel asserts historical and security-related claims over the area.
The current Israeli administration has been criticized for accelerating settlement expansion while also witnessing a rise in settler violence against Palestinians, prompting international concern.
Most countries and the United Nations view the settlements on West Bank land captured in the 1967 war as unlawful, though this stance is not recognized by Israel.
The incident occurred in Asasa village near Jenin, where the family had obtained the necessary permits from Israel’s military to bury their father.
During the burial, villagers alerted the family that some individuals were at the grave site demanding its removal due to claims that the land belonged to a settlement.
According to Mohammed Asasa, his family was told by settlers that they could not bury Hussein there as it allegedly fell within the boundaries of a settlement area.
The settlers threatened to dig up the grave with a bulldozer if their demands were ignored.
In response, the family decided to exhume the body themselves, having already observed that the grave had been partially dug into by the settlers.
Footage circulating on social media corroborated the account as it showed individuals digging at the site and carrying away what appeared to be a body under the watchful eyes of Israeli troops.
The Israeli military later confirmed that they were aware of the funeral arrangements but had not instructed the family to rebury their father.
Military personnel were dispatched to prevent further confrontation with settlers who were reportedly digging in the area.
Tools used for digging were confiscated, and the soldiers remained at the location to de-escalate the situation.
The UN Human Rights Office condemned this incident, describing it as a stark example of the ongoing dehumanization faced by Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).
Sa-Nur, the settlement nearby, was among those evacuated under Israel's 2005 disengagement plan.
However, its re-establishment was approved by Netanyahu’s government, leading to rapid construction, according to Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement watchdog.
The West Bank remains a contested territory where Palestinians seek to establish their own state.
In contrast, Israel asserts historical and security-related claims over the area.
The current Israeli administration has been criticized for accelerating settlement expansion while also witnessing a rise in settler violence against Palestinians, prompting international concern.
Most countries and the United Nations view the settlements on West Bank land captured in the 1967 war as unlawful, though this stance is not recognized by Israel.
