Israeli bulldozers today razed an agricultural road in Masafer Yatta area, south of the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, according to sources.

Coordinator of the Popular Anti-Wall and Settlement Committees in Southern Hebron, Rateb al-Jabour, said that the Israeli forces escorted bulldozers to the area, where the heavy machineries destroyed the road, which was established in 2019 and used to connect the Yatta and Khillet al-Dabe‘ towns to Masafer Yatta.

He pointed that the move was intended to further fragment the Palestinian communities making up the area as a prelude to seize their lands in favor of colonial settlement expansion.

Masafer Yatta is a collection of almost 19 hamlets which rely heavily on animal husbandry as the main source of livelihood.

Located in Area C of the West Bank, under full Israeli administrative and military control, the area has been subjected to repeated Israeli violations by settlers and soldiers targeting their main source of living - livestock.

It has been designated as a closed Israeli military zone for training since 1980s and accordingly referred to as Firing Zone 918.

Israeli violations against the area include demolition of animal barns, homes and residential structures. Issuance of construction permits by Israel to local Palestinians in the area is non-existent