In the windswept hills east of Mikhmas, near Jerusalem, the Bedouin community of Khallet al-Sidra struggles daily to survive amid increasing settler violence and systemic displacement. Around 59 residents live in rudimentary tents and tin shacks, lacking access to clean water, electricity, healthcare, or schools, while facing constant threats to their homes and livelihoods.

Settlers, often protected by Israeli forces, have carried out raids, arson, and the destruction of property, targeting homes, water tanks, and livestock. Residents describe an environment of near-constant fear, where attacks have intensified since late 2022 and escalated further after October 7, forming part of a broader strategy to remove Palestinian communities and expand settlements in the area. Livelihoods, centred on herding, are directly under threat, as the land represents both survival and cultural identity.

For the people of Khallet al-Sidra, daily life is a struggle against imposed hardship. Children walk long distances to attend schools in neighbouring villages, while residents transport water from distant sources. Roadblocks, fences, and arbitrary military restrictions further isolate the community. Analysts warn that such measures are not isolated incidents but a deliberate policy to make life unbearable and displace Palestinians without overt confrontation. Khallet al-Sidra lies within the E1 settlement zone, a highly strategic area that would connect nearby settlements and fragment the West Bank, undermining any possibility of Palestinian territorial continuity.

Despite the pressures, the community remains steadfast. Residents and local activists continue to document attacks, care for their livestock, and maintain a presence on the land. Their resilience underscores a quiet yet determined resistance to the systematic erasure of Palestinian communities from areas surrounding Jerusalem.