Report by Mayssa Abu Ghazaleh - The occupation authorities turned the lives of the people of “Rawabi Al-Issawiya” into a prison inside their homes and lands, by imposing restrictions on their entry and exit from their lands, and depriving them of freedom of movement within their town, after placing a wall and an iron gate and surrounding it with barbed wire, and the movement began Subject to the decisions of the soldiers present inside the camp established on their lands.

Gradually, the authorities began to confiscate the lands of Al-Issawiya in the Eastern Region and seize control of them, isolating large parts with the separation wall and the iron wall. In the Rawabi Al-Issawiya area in particular, the occupation established its camp, transformed the place into a military point and placed the wall and iron gate, without caring for the lives of more than 40 of the residents. Al-Issawiya, who live in the place and hold Israeli identity.

One of the landowners in the Rawabi Al-Issawiya area, the late Radhi Ahmed Nasser, had requested that he be buried on his land in the place to protect it from confiscation and the plans of the occupation. Indeed, his sons carried out his will, and today they are preserving their land and emphasizing their steadfastness in it despite the daily harassment and turning life into a prison.

The people of the Rawabi Al-Issawiya area were surprised, two days ago, by preventing their exit and entry through the gate, as has been the norm for nearly 13 years. In protest against the decision, the townspeople held prayers on their lands, demanding that the gate be opened to the residents and farmers, and that no restrictions be placed on their movements.

Concerning this, Mamoun Muhaisen, a resident of the town of Al-Issawiya, explained that two days ago, the residents were surprised by a decision from the occupation camp prohibiting the use of the iron gate, through which the residents of “Rawabi Al-Issawiya” exit and return to their homes and lands, as well as the entry of farmers who own the lands.

Muhaisen added: “The families of Rawabi Al-Issawiya have been living in the place since the beginning of the seventies of the last century, after building within the lands for which they have all the documents proving their ownership. The building gradually expanded with the natural increase in the population, and the area was completely empty.”

He added: "During the past years, harassment and land confiscation began in the area. They built the camp and turned it into a military zone, while allowing freedom of movement for families and farmers, but two days ago the occupation authorities began following new procedures for using the portal."

Muhaisen stressed the necessity of opening the iron gate to residents and all farmers without restrictions or conditions.

Muhaisen pointed out that the lands of Al-Issawiya amount to 14,874 dunums, divided into 7 basins, and the people live on only 900 dunums.

Muhaisen added that the occupation prevents the residents of Issawiya from using their lands in the eastern region, whether for agriculture or for residents, so they carry out permanent demolition and bulldozing operations.

He explained that parts of the area, according to the occupation plans, are the “E1” project.

The young man, Muhammad Radi - a resident of the Rawabi Al-Issawiya area - explained that the occupation has been preventing people from entering and exiting through the gate for two days, and he said: “The procedure that has been followed for years to use the gate and by decision of the Supreme Court is “the presence of names of homeowners, their family members, and farmers in the camp, and they are He checked it every time before allowing them to leave or enter,” but the situation changed two days ago and the soldiers began demanding that we use the “Zaim” road to reach Issawiya or Jerusalem.

Radhi said: “My name and the names of my children were deleted from the “list of registered names” without any reason. Children and the elderly had their names erased and are prevented from using this portal. He asked: What if one of the children or patients needs treatment, and what if any emergency occurs?

Radhi pointed out that this measure coincided with the opening of schools, and all the children of Rawabi Al-Issawiya are studying in Al-Issawiya schools, and the road to their schools only takes several minutes, but with the gate closed, it may take an hour to arrive.”

Muhammad Radhi’s mother said: “We have been here since 1974, before the occupation camp, before the gate and the wall, and we have a decision from the Supreme Court to stay and live on the land. We built the street and made water and electricity extensions and the necessary infrastructure to rehabilitate the area for housing, but the situation has changed since the camp was built, harassment.” "Continuously trying to prevent us from moving freely

Source: Maan News Agency