West Bank village sues to stop settlers from erecting outpost, chasing off residents

Residents of a southern West Bank hamlet have filed a petition to the High Court of Justice after the police and army refused to evict settlers who erected a tent over the home of a Palestinian man.

Settlers erected the canopied structure over a cave near the village of Khilet al-Daba in the South Hebron Hills that locals say is used as a home by a resident of the village, located some 200 meters away.

Jaber Dababseh, a resident of the village, tells The Times of Israel that around 20 settlers have moved into the area, and in recent days, have thrown stones and damaged residents’ property.

He adds that one resident was forced to leave his cave due to settler threats.

Footage from the area shows settlers walking around and allowing sheep to graze in the courtyards of village homes.

1/3 ????????????
ניסיון נוסף לטהר אתנית את הכפר ח'לת אל דבע: לאחר נסיונות רבים של הרשויות הציוניות לגרש את תושבי הכפר, ברגעים אלה פולשים לכפר כשלוש עשרה מתנחלים חמושים באקדחים ומקלות, הם הכריחו שתי משפחות לצאת מהמערות בהן הן מתגוררות וכעת המתנחלים נכנסו אליהן והכניסו לתוכן את הצאן שלהם https://t.co/bEDrpGVNK4 pic.twitter.com/ElDXECo3Pj

— מחוץ לעדר (@masafering) May 26, 2025

Residents contacted the army and police yesterday, demanding that the settlers be removed, but received no response, so have turned to Israel’s court system for an injunction.

In response to the petition, police state, “The cave is located on state land and appears to be abandoned; forces observed Israelis in the area and warned them not to enter the cave.”

The army also tells the court that the tent is not a settler outpost.

“There is no known outpost at the site. The so-called outpost mentioned by the petitioners is most likely a blue tarpaulin erected by an Israeli shepherd who positioned himself in a cave outside the village. It is a makeshift shelter for his personal use.”

Khilet al-Daba is located within a designated IDF firing zone, and the Israeli High Court ruled nearly three years ago that residents there could legally be evicted. However, Israeli authorities have yet to carry out any evacuations.

Palestinians say West Bank settlers seeking to expand their footprint in the territory have stepped up efforts to force Bedouin off the land in recent months, intimidating residents while herding sheep in close proximity to areas where Palestinians live.

Last week, settlers established an outpost adjacent to a Bedouin community near Ramallah. Within four days, 150 residents fled the area fearing for their safety, according to locals.