Deir ‘Ala (Baryat Kisan), Bethlehem District: Dozens of settlers attacked the community under military guard and killed eight goat kids

On Saturday, 24 May 2025, at around 5:00 P.M., a settler arrived with a flock of sheep and some dogs at the community of Dier ‘Ala, in the Baryat Kisan area east of the village of Kisan, and grazed his flock near the home of 50-year-old Mahmoud ‘Abayat, who was out at the time. ‘Abayat’s guard dogs chased away the settler’s flock.

The settler left the area, and about ten minutes later, six masked settlers arrived at the house on an ATV and in another vehicle, bringing three attack dogs. The settlers set the dogs on Mahmoud’s son, Hussein ‘Abayat, 22, and his cousin, who were near the house.

Hussein and his cousin ran toward the center of the community and called for help. Young men who came to their aid tried to drive away the dogs and settlers by throwing stones.

About ten minutes later, some 50 settlers arrived. They smashed the windows of a vehicle parked near one of the homes and began throwing stones at residents and houses. The residents responded with stone-throwing in an attempt to repel the attack and managed to prevent the settlers from approaching the homes.

Another ten minutes later, five military vehicles arrived. The soldiers who got out fired tear gas canisters at the residents and live rounds in the air.

The residents were forced to retreat, and the settlers advanced toward the community under the soldiers’ protection. They smashed the windows of three vehicles, broke into two homes, shattered their windows, and vandalized other property. The settlers also entered one family’s sheep pen and killed eight young goat kids.

The soldiers finally removed the settlers after about an hour and a half, and then left as well.

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The next day, police officers came to the community and arrested Mahmoud ‘Abayat and a young resident of the community for allegedly attacking the settlers, despite the fact that ‘Abayat was not present at any stage of the incident. The two were held in custody for five days and released after posting bail of 2,000 NIS (~ USD 590).

Following the attack, the women of the community and their children moved to the nearby village of Kisan, while the men stayed for four days to guard their property. The women and children later returned.

B’Tselem field researcher ‘Amer ‘Aruri collected the testimony of 22-year-old community resident Hussein ‘Abayat on 25 May 2025:

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On Saturday, 24 May 2025, at 5:00 P.M., a settler approached our home with a flock of sheep and dogs. At the time, my father, Mahmoud ‘Abayat, 50, was not home. When the settler’s dogs got close to the house, our dogs started barking at the settler and attacking his sheep that had come near. They are guard dogs, and they attack anyone who approaches.

 

The settler’s flock ran off, and he also left, but about ten minutes later, six masked settlers arrived on ATVs and brought three dogs of their own. I was afraid of the dogs and called to my cousin, 20, who was with me.

The settlers set the dogs on us, and Fadi and I ran into the house because we were afraid they would bite us. Other residents from the community arrived and threw stones to drive away the settlers’ dogs. After that, a large group of settlers arrived – I estimate about 50 people – in 4x4 vehicles and attacked the community’s homes.

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Stone-throwing broke out between the settlers and young men from the community who were trying to defend the houses. About ten minutes later, five military jeeps arrived, and the soldiers fired live rounds in the air and tear gas canisters at the young men. The soldiers provided cover for the settlers and allowed them to reach the homes of Naji Mahmoud ‘Abayat and Ayub Hassan ‘Abayat, where they smashed windows and damaged solar panels with stones. Some also reached our home and smashed windows and a solar panel. They also spilled goat milk kept in a special container onto the floor. One of the residents managed to move my father’s Subaru away from the house, but the settlers still managed to reach it and smash its windows.

The settlers also killed eight one-month-old goat kids from my family’s flock.

The soldiers removed the settlers only after two hours.

Today, 25 May 2025, at around 12:00 P.M., soldiers came to the community and arrested my father and another resident, claiming they threw stones, even though my father was not in the community at all during the attack.