Anti-bulldozing protests in Al-Naqab suppressed, mass arrests conducted

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Protests in Al-Naqab were renewed on the evening of Wednesday after Israeli bulldozers started destroying infrastructure earlier today. Israeli machines bulldozed lands belonging to Al-Atrash family, near the village of Sa'wah in Al-Naqab. 

The destruction took place under the massive protection of Israeli occupation forces. The atmosphere was tense as attacks and prolonged campaigns of arrests swept the region: 46 people were arrested in two days. 

Protesters set tires on fire and attempted to block major road intersections on the outskirts of Tel Al-Sabaa, Shaqib Al-Salam, and Rahat, demanding the release of the detainees and the cessation of bulldozing operations targeting Al-Naqab area, east Tel Al-Sabaa. 

In response, Israeli police fired sound bombs at the protesting youths in a violent attempt to disperse them by force. Israeli forces were stationed in large numbers in front of the police station in Tel Al-Sabaa. 

"Israel" prevents residents from entering their lands

This morning, Israeli security forces prevented residents from entering the lands facing destruction. Israeli bulldozers razed the land of the inhabitants for the third consecutive day. 

In an attempt to obstruct these actions, Palestinian protesters took to the streets to voice their rejection, while Israeli police fired stun grenades and carried out mass arrests to suppress the protests. 

Israeli attacks resulted in multiple injuries: a boy, driving his bike, was hit by an Israeli police officer vehicle. Two people were injured during the mass arrest process and were taken to "Soroka" Medical Center while facing detention.

Juma Al-Zabarqa, a politician and former Knesset member, said that "the police deal with protesters with hostility and barbarism, provoke and assault young people, and use all means to suppress peaceful demonstrators. They use horses and dogs in arrest operations, as well as tractors, cars that spray sewage, tear gas canisters, and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators."

Al-Zabarqa called for wide participation in the protests that are scheduled tomorrow, Thursday, at 3:00 Al-Quds time at the Sa'wah - Al-Atrash junction. The politician called on all leaders and political activists, particularly in Al-Naqab, to head to Al-Atrash and provide support to the legitimate struggle. 

Experts and activists give an explanation on ClubHouse

In parallel, an expert in Israeli affairs Alif Sabbagh told Al Mayadeen ClubHouse that the first thing the occupation wants to achieve is to gather the residents of Al-Naqab in the smallest area of ​​land away from their homes, as the occupation seeks to turn Al-Naqab into military bases to serve Israeli and US projects in the Middle East.

Furthermore, journalist Sabreen Al-Asam told Al Mayadeen ClubHouse that the situation is a build-up and not a product of the moment, noting that Al-Naqab constitutes half of historical Palestine and that its people are defending it with the simplest available means.

She added, "We are forced to carry the identity imposed on us by the occupation authorities in order to avoid our deportation from our land," pointing out that "we carried the identity that we do not want so that we can survive and defend our land."

Sabbagh explained that Al-Naqab in southern Palestine represents an important strategic location for the US administration and the Israeli occupation authorities, storing water resources estimated at 11 billion cubic meters.

On his part, Nasser Abu Nassar told Al Mayadeen ClubHouse, "What we see in Al-Naqab is the completion of the project to cleanse the land of its original inhabitants."

According to Abu Nassar, "Israel" pushes the narrative that Bedouins in Al-Naqab are “nomads” with no authentic relationship between them and the land and that the occupation authorities are trying to “civilize them".