Israeli settlers close off road to Masafer Yatta in occupied West Bank

Israeli settlers have early on Sunday closed off the main road leading to Masafer Yatta, a collection of 19 Palestinian hamlets in the Hebron Governorate of the southern West Bank, according to locals.

Jewish settlers used blocks of rocks to close the road to prevent the Palestinians from reaching and coming out of the area, locals reported.

Life in Israel's Firing Zone 918: A Palestinian community under constant threat - https://t.co/CKRI6yFF9o on @The_newarab #Palestine pic.twitter.com/SBaVEPTpOv

— al whit🍉 (@soitiz) May 5, 2021

Most of them Palestinian Bedouins, the local residents, have been suffering from the ongoing settlers' violations, including banning them from accessing basic necessities. The move came after Israel designated the area a "restricted military zone", allegeding it was "uninhabited".

Locals complained that Israeli settlers have intensified attacks against them and on their properties in a bid to expand settlements and take over Palestinian land.

Over 400,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, in violation of international law.