Khirbet Ibziq, the Jordan Valley:: Israeli settlers assaulted a shepherd, knocked her to the ground and kicked her; soldiers who arrived watched and laughed

On Monday morning, 6 October 2025, 59-year-old Saltieh ‘Aryan, who was displaced from the community of Khirbet Ibziq over the summer due to settler harassment and moved several kilometers westward into Area B, towards the village of Salhab, was grazing her flock of goats near the Kh. Ibziq school. At around 10:00 A.M., as she approached the entrance to the school to collect some goats that had strayed, a settler arrived on an ATV and began shouting at her that she was not allowed to be there and threatening her.

The settler got off the ATV, knocked ‘Aryan to the ground, and began kicking her all over her body, mainly in the back and side of the body. The assault lasted several minutes until a military vehicle arrived with two soldiers inside. They saw ‘Aryan lying on the ground next to the settler and, instead of helping her, watched and laughed. A few minutes later, the settler and the soldiers left.

Barely able to walk, ‘Aryan made it several hundred meters toward her current home, where she came across her son and other residents. They called an ambulance from Tubas, and she was taken to the Turkish Hospital in the city, where she was treated for injuries she sustained in the assault.

During the attack, about 10 goats strayed from the flock. Settlers apparently stole four of them. Three kids also went missing.

In a testimony she gave B’Tselem field researcher ‘Aref Daraghmeh on 9 October 2025, Saltieh ‘Aryan said:

I’ve lived in the Ibziq area for decades, and I raise goats. My husband passed away a few years ago, and I live with my son and daughter. In recent years, our lives have become harder and harder because of settler attacks and military training by the occupying forces in the area. This past year has been the hardest of my life. I haven’t had a single moment of peace or sense of security. I was forced to leave my home because of the settlers’ harassment. They came to the house, ordered us to leave, and threatened us. I moved to the southwestern edge of Ibziq, near Salhab. 

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On Monday morning I went out to graze the goats closer to my old home and the Ibziq school. Some of the goats wandered toward the school, and I went after them to bring them back. When I was near the eastern entrance to the school, a settler suddenly arrived on an ATV, shouted at me that I wasn’t allowed to be there, and threatened me. He got off the ATV, pushed me to the ground, and for several minutes kicked me all over my body, especially in the back and side of the body. Then, two soldiers arrived in a military vehicle, saw me lying on the ground, and laughed. They didn’t do anything. After the settler left, the soldiers drove away too. 

I walked a few hundred meters, in pain from the blows and kicks, until my son and some others saw me and called an ambulance from Tubas. I was taken to the Turkish Hospital, where I was examined and treated for my injuries. I’m still in pain. 

During the incident, 10 goats strayed from the flock. Settlers chased and stole four of them, and three kids went missing. 

In our old home, where I lived with my husband, the authorities demolished several of our tents in the past, and other families’ too. I left that home without taking anything because of the settlers’ threats, and later I would secretly return to collect things for the new home. I sold some of my goats because of restricted access to grazing areas, the settlers’ harassment and threats, and to pay off debts. 

The settlers claim the land is theirs. They’ve taken over the area and built roads. Now they prevent people from approaching Ibziq, chase them, and attack them. Families have fled for fear their flocks would be stolen. We wander, guests in fields and houses that aren’t ours, not knowing where to turn.