On Tuesday, Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich ordered the immediate expulsion of Khan al-Ahmar, a Palestinian Bedouin community of 759 people, including 387 children.
Smotrich was explicit about his motives: this act is in response to reported moves by the International Criminal Court to seek an arrest warrant against him. “I announce here and now the first target that will be attacked: immediately after my remarks, we will sign an order for the evacuation of Khan al-Ahmar. I promise all our enemies: this is only the beginning.” This is not policy. This is collective punishment.
For over a decade, our human rights monitors have accompanied Khan al-Ahmar, witnessing and reporting on demolition threats, harassment by the Israeli military and settlers and the steady erosion of this community’s way of life under Israel’s occupation. Today the community sits at the heart of Israel’s illegal E1 settlement plan, placing it in imminent danger of being erased.
Together we can place the spotlight on Khan al-Ahmar and urge our elected representatives to act.