Five decades in southern Jordan Valley were ending on a day as 55-year-old Mahmoud Eshaq struggled to hold back his tears while dismantling the family home and preparing to flee the village that was the center of his life. The Bedouin community of Ras 'Ein al 'Auja, which had been established for generations, was now nothing but memories as its residents were forced out by Israeli settlers.
As Eshaq's children loaded their belongings into a truck, masked soldiers escorted a teenage Israeli shepherd down the main village road where he posed for photos on his donkey with a V sign. The scene was a stark reminder of the ethnic cleansing that had taken place in the village, and it marked the end of an era for the Bedouin community.
The villagers were descended from refugees who were forced out of the Naqab region in what is now Israel in 1948. They were poor, isolated, and lacked political influence, making them easy targets for settlers. The campaign to displace Palestinians was run by violent extremists backed by far-right cabinet ministers.
In the two years since October 2023, Israeli soldiers and settlers have killed over 1,000 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, including one in five children. Despite this, no one has been tried or convicted for any of these deaths.
The forced displacement of Palestinians is a long-standing project in Israel, backed by politicians across party lines. In 1967, then-cabinet minister Yigal Allon proposed a plan to hold on to a strip of land along the Jordan Valley as a security buffer. Although the plan was never officially adopted, its elements have been implemented over time.
The area that Eshaq's village occupied is now part of the Israeli-controlled territory that includes nearly 400 sq km – an area bigger than Gaza. Settler herding outposts have proved an efficient instrument for mass dispossession in this region.
As Palestinians are forced to leave their homes, families who pack up can only wonder how those who stay will be treated. Eshaq's family is now on the frontline, and he fears they may not be protected from settlers' violence.
The international community has failed to hold Israel accountable for its actions, despite recognizing a Palestinian state in 2021. Canada, France, the UK, and other European countries have imposed sanctions on violent settlers but have done little to stop the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
"We are much further from any sort of international accountability than ever," said Sarit Michaeli, director of rights group B'Tselem. The culprits – both the violent settlers and those who enable them by funding and supporting this process – must be held accountable for their actions.
As Eshaq's children loaded their belongings into a truck, masked soldiers escorted a teenage Israeli shepherd down the main village road where he posed for photos on his donkey with a V sign. The scene was a stark reminder of the ethnic cleansing that had taken place in the village, and it marked the end of an era for the Bedouin community.
The villagers were descended from refugees who were forced out of the Naqab region in what is now Israel in 1948. They were poor, isolated, and lacked political influence, making them easy targets for settlers. The campaign to displace Palestinians was run by violent extremists backed by far-right cabinet ministers.
In the two years since October 2023, Israeli soldiers and settlers have killed over 1,000 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, including one in five children. Despite this, no one has been tried or convicted for any of these deaths.
The forced displacement of Palestinians is a long-standing project in Israel, backed by politicians across party lines. In 1967, then-cabinet minister Yigal Allon proposed a plan to hold on to a strip of land along the Jordan Valley as a security buffer. Although the plan was never officially adopted, its elements have been implemented over time.
The area that Eshaq's village occupied is now part of the Israeli-controlled territory that includes nearly 400 sq km – an area bigger than Gaza. Settler herding outposts have proved an efficient instrument for mass dispossession in this region.
As Palestinians are forced to leave their homes, families who pack up can only wonder how those who stay will be treated. Eshaq's family is now on the frontline, and he fears they may not be protected from settlers' violence.
The international community has failed to hold Israel accountable for its actions, despite recognizing a Palestinian state in 2021. Canada, France, the UK, and other European countries have imposed sanctions on violent settlers but have done little to stop the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
"We are much further from any sort of international accountability than ever," said Sarit Michaeli, director of rights group B'Tselem. The culprits – both the violent settlers and those who enable them by funding and supporting this process – must be held accountable for their actions.
This is just heartbreaking 
. And what really gets me is that no one is being held accountable for all the deaths and violence that's been going on over there. It's like they're getting away scot-free! 
My heart goes out to Mahmoud Eshaq and his family, they must be going through such a tough time right now...
and to think that this isn't even a new thing, but more of a continuation of something that's been going on for years. it's not just the loss of their homes, but also their identity and culture being erased. I'm getting really frustrated seeing these settlers posing for photos with V signs like they're some kind of heroes 
. it's just so messed up. we need to do better as a world to hold people accountable for their actions, especially when it comes to human rights violations.
This is just heartbreaking, man... Five decades gone in an instant? It's like they're erasing entire communities from history 
. I mean, think about it - the Bedouin people have been living in that valley for generations, and now they're being forced out by settlers who are more interested in grabbing land than in coexisting with their neighbors 
. It's not just about the Palestinians; it's about the Israeli government's responsibility to uphold human rights 
.
. I mean, where's the accountability? Where's the justice? 
. We need to support organizations like B'Tselem that are fighting for Palestinian rights 
. And we need to keep demanding action from our governments until there's real change 
.
. This is not just about politics; it's about basic human decency 
. We owe it to ourselves, to each other, and to future generations to make sure this never happens again 
.
.
. We can't just sit back and watch as people like Mahmoud Eshaq are forced out of their homes without any protection or support 
. We need to find a way to bring about real change here 
. It's heartbreaking to see an entire community being forced out of their homes after 50 years, leaving behind memories and a way of life 
. The sanctions on violent settlers are just the tip of the iceberg 
.
. It's like Israel is getting away with murder and impunity 
. The fact that families who are being forced to leave their homes are wondering how those who stay will be treated is just chilling 
.
️. We need international accountability and action, not just words 
. Sarit Michaeli's statement about needing to hold both the violent settlers and those who enable them accountable for their actions is so true 
. It's time for some serious change and consequences for those responsible 
️ 50 yrs in Ras 'Ein al 'Auja is coming to an end 
Eshaq's village is no more 
What's happening to these ppl? 
They just wanna live in peace 
Canada, France, UK... where's the action? 
We need to stop ethnic cleansing 
and protect Palestinian rights 
to what's happening in Israel 
Eshaq's story is just one example of the many heartbreaking stories from Palestine 
Sarit Michaeli is right, those who enable settlers must be held accountable 
The culprits, violent settlers and their enablers, must face the consequences of their actions 
. this ethnic cleansing thingy needs to stop ASAP, we need to see some serious punishment for these settlers 
.
. And the international community is just sitting back and letting it happen? Not cool, fam 
.
.
. It's all so senseless and inhumane 
.
it's just heartbreaking seeing a community like that being forced out of their homes 
. we need to do better, we need to stand up for these people and hold those in power accountable 
.
, it's like the whole village is just vanishing into thin air. i mean, these people have been living there for generations, they're not even getting a chance to say goodbye to their homes or leave with dignity. and now they're being forced out by settlers who are basically terrorists 
from the map like that 
. We need more solidarity with Palestine and an end to this occupation 
.
The scene of the masked soldiers and the Israeli shepherd taking photos with a V sign is just disturbing 
. It shows how normalized this violence has become in Israel. We can't just turn a blind eye 
. It's like they're trying to erase these communities from history, but we can't ignore that it's all part of a larger narrative of colonialism and occupation 
. Sanctions are just lip service when it comes down to holding Israel accountable for its actions 
. We need to be calling out these policies for what they are: a thinly veiled attempt at ethnic cleansing