B'Tselem claims 47 Palestinian families at risk of expulsion, IDF says homes built illegaly

Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem reported Tuesday that 47 Palestinian families in the West Bank's northern Jordan Valley are at risk of expulsion. The group claims settler extremists and the IDF have cut off water to 300 people in Ras al-Ahmar, At-Tha'ala, and east of Atuf. B'Tselem attributes the water shortage to the IDF, stating it makes it difficult for families reliant on agriculture and sheep rearing to remain in the area. The organization also warned that damaged water infrastructure threatens thousands of dunams of agricultural land.

IDF sources, however, told The Jerusalem Post that the circumstances vary for each family. Many, if not all, are alleged to have built their homes illegally in Area C of the West Bank. The military maintains that these families should not have built in these zones and that each case is proceeding through the legal system. The IDF also stated that a project affecting the water in the area is being carried out for security reasons.

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The purpose of the project is operational control that will make it possible to prevent the smuggling of weapons, thwart security threats to the State of Israel and terrorist incidents in the Jordan Valley area.

"The purpose of the project is operational control that will make it possible to prevent the smuggling of weapons, thwart security threats to the State of Israel and terrorist incidents in the Jordan Valley area," the military said in a statement. IDF sources did not confirm or deny allegations about the water supply but confirmed a digging project for security reasons. They noted that a dividing wall established three years ago failed to improve security. The IDF cited a "sectoral history of terrorist acts" in the area, including attacks that claimed soldiers' and civilians' lives, referencing the Deutsch and Dee families.

While acknowledging that digging for larger barriers could potentially damage water infrastructure, IDF sources insisted that no one should be living in the area. "It should be clarified that the work is being carried out in accordance with the latest court decision in the petition, which allows the start of work on most sections of the barrier, with certain restrictions, particularly concerning the demolition of buildings," the IDF said.

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It should be clarified that the work is being carried out in accordance with the latest court decision in the petition, which allows the start of work on most sections of the barrier, with certain restrictions, particularly concerning the demolition of buildings.